They got out at Knightsbridge Barracks. The last of the morning riders were coming in, and already the afternoon hacks, loose-jointed, with lack-lustre coats and harness, smelling of the livery stable, were taking possession of the Row. They went obliquely across the grass dotted with big trees, whose branches were as regular as those of genealogical trees; English girls wearing imitation amber necklaces were going home, with novels bound in green cloth under moist armpits, accompanied by long limp youths who walked with bent knees, carrying their hats in their hands. "Just now in that office you frightened me even more than you did in Sicily," said Lewis. "And now?" "Not so much now. When you are doing nothing you are much more like other women. I've often thought of you.... Are you romantic?" "No, romance was invented by people who have no hearts. Personally, my thoughts have been of San Lucido." "And now you have got your reward. You are a good business woman; you know how to persevere." "And you are a good business man because you know when you are beaten." "Shall I tell you why I let you beat me? I did it to see you again," said Lewis, softly. "Don't be silly. You gave in because you couldn't do anything else. You were heading for financial quicksands when the time came to pay. You've got a cool head so you cut off a finger to save your hand, as they say at the Bourse." "Financial quicksands for the Franco-African?" asked Lewis. "For a little matter of six million lire?" "It's nothing to do with the Franco-African," retorted Irene, calmly. "It's you. You've been acting all through this business entirely on your own account without consulting your Board. Do you think I don't know that? You acted from pride, as I should possibly have done myself. In proportion as your difficulties increased--and I don't deny that I helped--your personal resources, or those of your friends, diminished. A time comes when the fight of one against many becomes impossible, don't you see? I knew you could appeal to your backers. But I also guessed that you would rather give up the mine than lay the situation before them when it was going badly. Wasn't I right?" Lewis kept his eyes fixed on the ground. "Yes," he replied, furiously, "of course you are right." There was a short pause. "It's no good trying to do anything with you," he went on. "Why aren't you a woman?" The blood rushed to Irene's face and flooded it with a soft pink. Her eyes grew misty and her mouth trembled. Lewis saw that he had hurt her. He grew calm at once. "Is there pain in your heart or only in your eyes?... Please forgive me. I only meant: why do you always think before you speak, why do you never smile, why don't your pupils dilate with interest when you are being discussed? Why do you think of what other people are doing?" Irene could not get past his previous statement.