"Oh, so Hilary helped to let him go, because they both--?"

"Precisely," said I.

"And you dare to come and tell me?"

"Well, I thought you ought to know," said I. "Hilary's just as
mad about her as Johnny--in fact, he said he'd be hanged if he
wouldn't have done the same himself."

I have once seen Madame Ristori play Lady Macbeth. Her
performance was recalled to me by the tones in which Mrs. Hilary
asked:

"Who is this woman, if you please, Mr. Carter?"

"So Hilary got him off--gave him fifty pounds too."

"Glad to get him away, perhaps," she burst out, in angry scorn.

"Who knows?" said I. "Perhaps."

"Her name?" demanded Lady Macbeth--I mean Mrs. Hilary--again.

"I shan't tell you, unless you promise to say nothing to Hilary."

"To say nothing! Well, really--"

"Oh, all right!" and I took up my hat.