ould put that question. He was as
inquisitive as a monkey, and when he had made up his mind to find out
anything it was useless to try to divert his attention. After a moment's
hesitation she said: "I flirted with Fred. It was a bore but he was very
decent."

"He would be--poor Fred. And you got Ursula thoroughly frightened!"

"Well--enough. And then luckily that young Nerone Altineri turned up
from Rome: he went over to New York to look for a job as an engineer,
and Ursula made Fred put him in their iron works." She paused again,
and then added abruptly: "Streffy! If you knew how I hate that kind of
thing. I'd rather have Nick come in now and tell me frankly, as I know
he would, that he's going off with--"

"With Coral Hicks?" Strefford suggested.

She laughed. "Poor Coral Hicks! What on earth made you think of the
Hickses?"

"Because I caught a glimpse of them the other day at Capri. They're
cruising about: they said they were coming in here."

"What a nuisance! I do hope they won't find us out. They were
awfully kind to Nick when he went to India with them, and they're so
simple-minded that they would expect him to be glad to see them."

Strefford aimed his cigarette-end at a tourist on a puggaree who was
gazing up from his guidebook at the palace. "Ah," he murmured with
satisfaction, seeing the shot take effect; then he added: "Coral Hicks
is growing up rather pretty."

"Oh, Streff--you're dreaming! That lump of a girl with spectacles and
thick ankles! Poor Mrs. Hicks used to say to Nick: 'When Mr. Hicks and
I had Coral educated we presumed culture was in greater demand in Europe
than it appears to be.'"

"Well, you'll see: that girl's education won't interfere with her, once
she's started. So then: if Nick came in and told you he was going off--"

"I should be so thankful if it was with a fright like Coral! But you
know," she added with a smile, "we've agreed that it's not to happen for
a year."

VI.

SUSY found Strefford, after his first burst of nonsense, unusually kind
and responsive. The interest he showed in her future and Nick's seemed
to proceed not so much from his habitual spirit of scientific curiosity
as from simple friendliness. He was privileged to see Nick's first
chapter, of which he formed so favourable an impression that he spoke
sternly to Susy on the importance of respecting her husband's working
hours; and he even carried his general benevolence to the length
of showing a fat