For a single moment her impulse was to fly from the apartment, so ashamed was she of having listened, and of meeting her rival in this way; but she conquered this feeling, and, as soon as she saw Mrs.Vane too had recovered some composure, she said to Triplet, in a low but firm voice: "Leave us, sir.

No living creature must hear what I say to this lady!" Triplet remonstrated, but Mrs.Vane said, faintly: "Oh, yes, good Mr.Triplet, I would rather you left me." Triplet, full of misgivings, was obliged to retire.
"Be composed, ladies," said he piteously.

"Neither of you could help it;" and so he entered his inner room, where he sat and listened nervously, for he could not shake off all apprehension of a personal encounter.
In the room he had left there was a long, uneasy silence.

Both ladies were greatly embarrassed.

It was the actress who spoke first.