'I am proud of the man who is acknowledged to be the cleverest man in London.' She got up and began to walk about the studio. She stopped before the picture. 'Do you know, Alec--I am not a critic, but I can feel a thing--that this is quite the best work you have ever done. Oh! Those waves, they live and dance; and those birds, they fly; and the air is so warm and soft!--you are a great painter. Odd! your girl is curiously like Armorel. One would fancy your model was Armorel at sixteen or so--a lovely girl she must have been then, and a lovely woman she is now.' Zoe left the picture and began to look at the papers on the table. 'What is this--the new story? Is it good?' 'To you, Zoe, I may confess that it is as good as anything I have ever done.' 'You are really splendid, Alec! What is this?' She took up a very neatly written page in his handwriting. 'Poetry?' 'Those are some verses for next week's journal. I think there is no falling off there, Zoe.' 'Have you got another copy?' 'There is the copy that has gone to the printers'.' 'Then I will take this. It will do for a present--the autograph original draft of the poem--or I may keep it.' 'Zoe, come back and sit down. We must talk seriously.' She returned and took up her old position by the fire. 'As seriously as you please. It means something disagreeable--something to do with money. Let us get it over. To go back to what we were saying, therefore. I cannot get you that money from Armorel. And at the very word of money she refers one to her lawyer. No confidence at all, as between friends who love each other. That is the position, Alec.' She sat with her hands clasped over her right knee. 'I must have some money,' he said. 'Then, as I have before remarked, Alec--make it.' 'If one cannot have money, Zoe, one may get credit, which is sometimes just as good.' 'I cannot help you in getting credit.' 'Perhaps you can. You can help me, Zoe, by keeping quite quiet.' 'Oh! I am always quiet. I have remained quiet for three years and more, while you flirt with countesses and cousins. How much more quiet do you wish me to remain? While you marry them?' 'Not quite that, my child. But next door to it. While I get engaged to one of them--to one who has money.' 'Not--Philippa.' 'No--I told you before. What the devil is the good of harping on Philippa? You see, if I can let it be understood that I am going to marry an heiress, the difficulties will be tided over. Therefore I shall get engaged to your charge--Armorel Rosevean.' 'Oh!' Zoe received this proposition with coldness. 'This is a charming thing for me to sanction, isn't it?' 'It will do you no harm.' 'I have certainly endured things as bad.' 'You see, Zoe, one could always break off the thing when the time came.' 'Certainly.' 'And you would know all the time that it was a mere pretence.' 'I should certainly know that.' 'Well; is there any other observation?'