Page:The Private Life, Lord Beaupré, The Visits (New York, Harper & Brothers, 1893).djvu/32

22 knew that from his hand the finished piece would have received no active life. At the same time, nothing could be more agreeable than to have such a question open with Blanche Adney, and from time to time he put something very good into the play. If he deceived Mrs. Adney, it was only because in her despair she was determined to be deceived. To her question about their third act he replied that before dinner he had written a magnificent passage.

"Before dinner?" I said. "Why, cher maître, before dinner you were holding us all spellbound on the terrace."

My words were a joke, because I thought his had been; but for the first time that I could remember I perceived a certain confusion in his face. He looked at me hard, throwing back his head quickly, the least bit like a horse who has been pulled up short. "Oh, it was before that," he replied, naturally enough.

"Before that you were playing billiards with me," Lord Mellifont intimated.

"Then it must have been yesterday," said Vawdrey.