He's ashamed to show his face in the Clubs, and
nearly resigned from diplomacy. But he's a valuable man, and they've
persuaded him to go to Madrid."

"Why go back to Constantinople?"

"Merely to show I'm not afraid to and that I won't be driven from my
purpose by false accusations."

"And you love it, of course."

"Yes. My flat will be charming, I think. Some day you'll see it."

Dion was silent in surprise.

"Don't you realize that?" she asked, staring at him.

"I think it very improbable that I shall ever go back to
Constantinople."

"And I'm sure you will."

"Why are you sure?"

"That I can't tell you. Why is one sometimes sure that certain things
will come about?"

"Do you claim to be psychic?" said Dion.

"I never make verbal claims. Now about Jimmy."

She discussed for a little while seriously her plans for the boy's
education while he stayed with her. She had found a tutor, a young
Oxford man, who would accompany them to Turkey, but she wanted Dion's
advice on certain points. He gave it, wondering all the time why she
consulted him after his neglect of her and of her son, after his
failure to accept invitations and to fulfil pledges (or to stick to the
understandings which were almost pledges), after the tacit refusals of
Rosamund. Did it not show a strange persistence, even a certain lack of
pride in her? Perhaps she heard the haunting questions which he did not
utter, for she suddenly turned from the topic of the boy and said:

"You're surprised at my bothering you with all this when we really know
each other so slightly. It is unconventional; but I shall never learn
the way to conventionality in spite of all poor Esme's efforts to
shepherd me into the path he thinks narrow and I find broad--a way that
leads to destruction. I feel you absolutely understand boys, and know by
instinct the best way with them. That's why I _still_ come to you."

She paused. She had deliberately driven home her meaning by a stress on
one word. Now she sat looking at him, with a wide-eyed and deeply
grave fixity, as if considering what more she should say. Dion murmured
something about being very glad if he could help her in any way with
regard to Jimmy.

"You can be conventional," she remarked. "Well, why not? Most English
people are perpetually playing for safety."

"I wish you wouldn't go back to Constantinople," said Dion.

"Why?"

"I believe it's a mistake. It seems to me like throwing down a defiance
t