CHAPTER VI

JIMMY DEMANDS THE TRUTH

Sangster had been sitting with his back to the door by which Cynthia
and her escort had entered. When he saw the sudden change in Jimmy
Challoner's face, he turned in his chair quickly.

Cynthia was seated now. She was languidly drawing off her long white
gloves. A waiter had taken her sable coat; without it the elaborate
frock she wore looked too showy; it was cut too low in the neck. A
diamond necklace glittered on her white throat.

Sangster turned back again. Under cover of the table he gave Jimmy a
kick. He saw that Christine had noticed the sudden change in his face.
To hide his friend's discomfort he rushed into speech. He tried to
distract the girl's attention; presently Jimmy recovered himself.

Mrs. Wyatt alone had not been conscious of any disturbing element.

She had lived all her life in the country, and her few visits to London
had been exceedingly brief, and always conducted on the most severe of
lines--a dull, highly respectable hotel to stay in, stalls for plays
against which no single newspaper had raised a dissentient voice, and
perhaps a visit to a museum or picture gallery.

It had only been under protest that she had consented to visit the
suburban theatre at which Cynthia Farrow was playing.