en to her! Yvonne, you are growing vain."

"A woman without vanity is not appreciated."

"A woman without vanity is not human."

"If you are going to say cynical things I won't talk to you. You want a
whisky-and-soda."

"I don't."

"You do. The first thing to offer a man on leave is whisky-and-soda."

"It is a ritual, then?"

"It is the law. Sit down there and resign yourself to it. Do you really
mean to tell me that you did not know Paul was in France?"

"It must be a dreadful blow to your self-esteem, Yvonne, but I really
came here expecting to see him. When does he return?"

Yvonne rose as a maid entered with a tray bearing decanter and syphon.
"On Tuesday morning if the Channel is clear. Will you help yourself or
shall I pour out until you say 'When'?"

"Please help me. You cannot imagine how delightful it is to be waited
upon by a nice girl after grubbing over there."

"When do you have to go back, Don?"

"I have a clear week yet. When! How is Paul progressing with the book,
Yvonne?"

"He has been collecting material for months, and of course his present
visit to France is for material, too. I think he has practically
completed the first part, but I have no idea what form it is finally to
take."

"His article in the _Review_ made a stir."

"Wasn't it extraordinary!" cried Yvonne, seating herself beside Don on
the low window-seat and pressing the cushions with her hands. "We were
simply snowed under with letters from all sorts of people, and quite a
number of them called in person, even after Paul had left London."

"Did you let them in?"

"No; some of them quite frightened me. There was one old clergyman who
seemed very suspicious when Eustace told him that Paul was abroad. He
stood outside the house for quite a long time, banging his stick on the
pavement and coughing in a nasty barking fashion. I was watching him
through the curtains of an upstairs window. He left a tract behind
called _The Path is Straight but Narrow_."

"Did he wear whiskers?"

"Yes; long ones."

"A soft black hat, a polo collar and a ready-for-use black tie?"

"I believe he did."

"I am glad you did not let him in."

Through the narrow-panelled windows of the charming morning-room Don
could see the old sundial. He remembered that in the summer the
miniature rock-garden endued a mantle of simple flowers, and that sweet
scents were borne into the room by every passing breeze. A great
Victorian painter had lived in