Lady Denyer stood a little way in advance of the group on the hearthrug, fanning herself, with her eye on the door, while she listened languidly to the remarks of a youthful diplomatist, a sprig of a lordly tree, upon the last debut at Her Majesty’s Theatre.

‘My own idea was that she screamed,’ said her ladyship.  ’But the new Rosinas generally do scream.  Why do we have a new Rosina every year, whom nobody ever hears of afterwards?  What becomes of them?  Do they die, or do they set up as singing mistresses in second-rate watering-places?’ hazarded her ladyship, with her eye always on the door.

She was a large woman in amethyst satin, and a gauze turban with a diamond aigrette, a splendid jewel, which would not have misbeseemed the head-gear of an Indian prince.  Lady Denyer was one of the last women who wore a turban, and that Oriental head-dress became her bold and massive features.

Infinitely bored by the whiskerless attache, who had entered upon a disquisition on the genius of Rossini as compared with this new man Meyerbeer, her ladyship made believe to hear, while she listened intently to the confidential murmurs of the group on the hearthrug, the little knot of personages clustered round Lord Denyer.  Hi ’Indian mail in this morning,’ said one—­’nothing else talked of at the club.  Very flagrant case!  A good deal worse than Warren Hastings.  Quite clear there must be a public inquiry—­House of Lords—­criminal prosecution.’

’I was told on very good authority, that he has been recalled, and is now on his passage home,’ said another man.

Lord Denyer shrugged his shoulders, pursed up his lips, and looked ineffably wise, a way he had when he knew very little about the subject under discussion.

‘How will she take it, do you think?’ inquired Colonel Madison, of the Life Guards, a man about town, and an inveterate gossip, who knew everybody, and everybody’s family history, down to the peccadilloes of people’s great grandmothers.

‘You will have an opportunity of judging,’ replied his lordship, coolly.  ‘She’s to be here this evening.’

‘But do you think she’ll show?’ asked the Colonel.  ’The mail must have brought the news to her, as well as to other people—­supposing she knew nothing about it beforehand.  She must know that the storm has burst.  Do you think she’ll——­’

‘Come out in the thunder and lightning?’ interrupted Lord Denver; ’I’m sure she will.  She has the pride of Lucifer and the courage of a lion.  Five to one in ponies that she is here before the clock strikes seven!’

’I think you are right.  I knew her mother, Constance Talmash.  Pluck was a family characteristic of the Talmashes.  Wicked as devils, and brave as lions.  Old Talmash, the grandfather, shot his valet in a paroxysm of delirium tremens,’ said Colonel Madison.  ’She’s a splendid woman, and she won’t flinch.  I’d rather back her than bet against her.’