Juliana saw Rose go up to Evan, and make him introduce her to his mother.  She turned lividly white, and went to a corner of the park by herself, and cried bitterly.

Lady Jocelyn, Sir Franks, and Sir John, remained by the tables, but before the guests were out of ear-shot, the individual signalled from Olympus presented himself.

‘There are times when one can’t see what else to do but to lie,’ said her ladyship to Sir Franks, ’and when we do lie the only way is to lie intrepidly.’

Turning from her perplexed husband, she exclaimed: 

‘Ah!  Lawson?’

Captain Evremonde lifted his hat, declining an intimacy.

‘Where is my wife, madam?’

‘Have you just come from the Arctic Regions?’

‘I have come for my wife, madam!’

His unsettled grey eyes wandered restlessly on Lady Jocelyn’s face.  The Countess standing near the Duke, felt some pity for the wife of that cropped-headed, tight-skinned lunatic at large, but deeper was the Countess’s pity for Lady Jocelyn, in thinking of the account she would have to render on the Day of Judgement, when she heard her ladyship reply

‘Evelyn is not here.’

Captain Evremonde bowed profoundly, trailing his broad white hat along the sward.

‘Do me the favour to read this, madam,’ he said, and handed a letter to her.

Lady Jocelyn raised her brows as she gathered the contents of the letter.

‘Ferdinand’s handwriting!’ she exclaimed.

’I accuse no one, madam,—­I make no accusation.  I have every respect for you, madam,—­you have my esteem.  I am sorry to intrude, madam, an intrusion is regretted.  My wife runs away from her bed, madam, and I have the law, madam, the law is with the husband.  No force!’ He lashed his cane sharply against his white legs.  ’The law, madam.  No brute force!’ His cane made a furious whirl, cracking again on his legs, as he reiterated, ‘The law!’

’Does the law advise you to strike at a tangent all over the country in search for her?’ inquired Lady Jocelyn.

Captain Evremonde became ten times more voluble and excited.

Mrs. Mel was heard by the Countess to say:  ’Her ladyship does not know how to treat madmen.’

Nor did Sir Franks and Sir John.  They began expostulating with him.

‘A madman gets madder when you talk reason to him,’ said Mrs. Mel.

And now the Countess stepped forward to Lady Jocelyn, and hoped she would not be thought impertinent in offering her opinion as to how this frantic person should be treated.  The case indeed looked urgent.  Many gentlemen considered themselves bound to approach and be ready in case of need.  Presently the Countess passed between Sir Franks and Sir John, and with her hand put up, as if she feared the furious cane, said: 

‘You will not strike me?’

‘Strike a lady, madam?’ The cane and hat were simultaneously lowered.