save the
mark. All my arguments and my little museum of photographs were lost on
him; but when I mentioned your name, and promised him an introduction to
you, he gorged the bait greedily. He was half drunk when he signed; and
I should not have let him touch the paper if I had not convinced myself
beforehand that he means well, and that my wine had only freed his
natural generosity from his conventional cowardice and prejudice.
We must get his name published in as many journals as possible as a
signatory to the great petition; it will draw on others as your name
drew him. The second novice, Chichester Erskine, is a young poet.
He will not be of much use to us, though he is a devoted champion of
liberty in blank verse, and dedicates his works to Mazzini, etc. He
signed reluctantly. All this hesitation is the uncertainty that comes
of ignorance; they have not found out the truth for themselves, and are
afraid to trust me, matters having come to the pass at which no man
dares trust his fellow.

"I have met a pretty young lady here who might serve you as a model for
Hypatia. She is crammed with all the prejudices of the peerage, but I am
effecting a cure. I have set my heart on marrying her to Erskine, who,
thinking that I am making love to her on my own account, is jealous. The
weather is pleasant here, and I am having a merry life of it, but I find
myself too idle. Etc., etc., etc."

CHAPTER XVI

One sunny forenoon, as Agatha sat reading on the doorstep of the
conservatory, the shadow of her parasol deepened, and she, looking up
for something denser than the silk of it, saw Trefusis.

"Oh!"

She offered him no further greeting, having fallen in with his habit
of dispensing, as far as possible, with salutations and ceremonies.
He seemed in no hurry to speak, and so, after a pause, she began, "Sir
Charles--"

"Is gone to town," he said. "Erskine is out on his bicycle. Lady Brandon
and Miss Lindsay have gone to the village in the wagonette, and you have
come out here to enjoy the summer sun and read rubbish. I know all your
news already."

"You are very clever, and, as usual, wrong. Sir Charles has not gone to
town. He has only gone to the railway station for some papers; he will
be back for luncheon. How do you know so much of our affairs?"

"I was on the roof of my house with a field-glass. I saw you come out
and sit down here. Then Sir Charles passed. Then Erskine. Then Lady
Brandon, driving with great energ