al Pellew--for why should the
story conceal her identity? "We certainly shall, if we go over and over
and over it, and never get an inch nearer. You know, my dear, if we have
talked it over once, we have talked it over five hundred times, and no
one is a penny the wiser. You are so vague. What was it I began by
saying?"

"That that sort of flash-in-the-pan he had ... when he saw the bust, you
know ..."

"I know. Septimius Severus."

"... Was just about the time Sir Coupland Merridew met us at the
Kinkajou, and asked for the address in Cavendish Square. That was the
end of September. Gwen told you all about it that same evening, and you
told me when I came next day."

"I know. The time you spilt the coffee over my poplinette."

"I don't deny it. Well--what was it you meant to say?"

"What about?... Oh, I know--the Septimius Severus business! Nothing came
of it. I mean it never happened again."

"I'm--not--so--sure! I fancy Tim thought something of the sort did. But
I couldn't say. It's too long ago now to remember anything fresh. That's
a Koodoo. If I had horns, I should like that sort."

"Never mind the Koodoo. Go on about Gwen and the blind story. You know
we both thought she _was_ going to marry the Hapsburg, and then she
turned up quite suddenly and unexpectedly in Cavendish Square, and told
Clo Dalrymple she had come back to order her _trousseau_. Then the Earl
said that to you about the six months' trial."

"Ye-es. He said she had come home in a fine state of mind, because her
mother hadn't played fair. He didn't give particulars, but I could see.
Of course, that story in the papers _may_ have been her mamma's doing.
Very bad policy if it was, with a daughter like that. However, he said
it was very near the end of the six months, and after all the whole
thing was rather a farce. Besides, Gwen _had_ played fair. So he had let
her off three weeks, and she was going down to the Towers at once--which
meant, of course, Pensham Steynes."

"And nothing else?"

"Only that he thought on the whole he had better go with her. Can't
recall another word, 'pon my honour!"

"I recollect. But he didn't go, because Gwen waited for her mother to
come with her. Undoubtedly that was the proper course." This was spoken
in a Grundy tone. "But she was very indignant with Philippa about
something."

"Philippa was backing the Hapsburg. All that is intelligible. What I
want to understand--only we never shall--is how Adrian's