He looked again at Hardyman and took his hat.

"Make my apologies to my aunt," he said.

"You must introduce yourself to her Ladyship.

I can't wait here any longer." He walked out of the room, having deliberately returned the contemptuous indifference of Hardyman by a similar indifference on his own side, at parting.
Left by himself, Hardyman took a chair and glanced at the door which led into the boudoir.

The steward had knocked at that door, had disappeared through it, and had not appeared again.