Victoria did not answer. Mary stood before them, her eyes downcast before the drama. She was waiting for orders. 'Can't you speak?' growled Cairns. 'Who is it?' Victoria found her voice at last. 'My brother,' she said hoarsely. Cairns did not say a word. He walked once up and once down the room, stopped before the mirror to settle his tie. Then turned to Mary. 'Tell the gentleman Mrs Ferris can't see him!' Mary turned to go. There was a sound of footsteps in the dining-room. The button of the door turned twice as if somebody was trying to open it. The door was locked but Cairns almost leaped towards it. Victoria stopped him. 'No,' she said, 'let me have it out. Tell Mr Wren I'm coming, Mary.' Mary turned away. The incident was fading from her mind as a stone fades away as it falls into an abyss. Victoria clung to Cairns and whispered in his ear. 'Tom, go away, go away. Come back in an hour. I beg you.' 'No, old girl, I'm going to see you through,' said Cairns doggedly. 'No, no, don't.' There was fear in her voice. 'I must have it out. Go away, for my sake, Tom.' She pushed him gently into the hall, forced him to pick up his hat and stick and closed the door behind him. She braced herself for the effort; for a second the staircase shivered before her eyes like a road in the heat. 'Now for it,' she said, 'I'm in for a row.' A pleasant little tingle was in her veins. She opened the dining-room door. It was not very light. There was a slight singing in her ears. She saw nothing before her except a man's legs clad in worn grey trousers where the knees jutted forward sharply. With an effort she raised her eyes and looked Edward in the face. He was pale and thin as ever. A ragged wisp of yellow hair hung over the left side of his forehead. He peered at her through his silver-mounted glasses. His hands were twisting at his watch chain, quickly, nervously, like a mouse in a wheel. As she looked at his weak mouth his insignificance was revealed to her. Was this, this creature with the vague idealistic face, the high shoulders, something to be afraid of? Pooh! 'Well, Edward?' she said, involuntarily aggressive. Wren did not answer. His hands suddenly stopped revolving. 'Well, Edward?' she repeated. 'So you've found me?' 'Yes,' he said at length. 'I . . . . Yes, I've found you.' The movement of his hands began again. 'Well?' 'I know. I've found out. . . . I went to Finsbury.' 'Oh? I suppose you mean you tracked me from my old rooms. I suppose Betty told you I . . . my new occupation.' Wren jumped. 'Damn,' he growled. 'Damn you.' Victoria smiled. Edward swearing. It was too funny. What an awful thing it was to have a sense of humour. 'You seem to know all about it,' she said smoothly. 'But what do you want?' 'How dare you,' growled Edward. 'A woman like you. . . . .' A hard look came into Victoria's eyes. 'That will do Edward, I know my own business.' 'Yes, a dirty business.' A hot flush spread over the man's thin cheeks.