On the mantelpiece was a marble bust of the young Cæsar as First Consul, and above it a delightful portrait of Mademoiselle Georges, by Gérard. As he briefly informed his visitor of the portrait's identity, Mr. Greville Howard felt just a little disappointed that Mrs. Winslow did not seem more interested. During the last quarter of an hour he had recaptured what at the time of the affair had been a very definite impression as to the relations of his present visitor and the Wiltshire banker. But now, seeing Katty there before him, looking so much at her ease, so--so ladylike (Mr. Greville Howard's own word), he hesitated. "Pray sit down," he said courteously, "and make yourself comfortable, Mrs. Winslow. It's getting rather chilly." Her host put on another log as he spoke, and pulled a low, easy chair up close to the fire. And then he himself sat down, at right angles to his attractive guest, in a curiously-shaped winged chair which had once been part of the furniture in the Empress Joséphine's music-room at Malmaison. CHAPTER XXIV It had been a little after three o'clock when Katty Winslow entered Mr. Greville Howard's study--and now it was half-past four. The room had grown gradually darker, but the fire threw out a glimmering light on the faces of the two sitting there. All at once Katty realised, with a sense of acute discomfiture, that as yet her host had said nothing--nothing, at least, that mattered. He had drawn out of her, with extraordinary patience, courtesy, and intelligence, all that _she_ could tell _him_--of what had happened before, and about the time of, Godfrey Pavely's death. She had even told him of the two anonymous letters received by Godfrey Pavely--but with regard to them she had of course deliberately lied, stating that Godfrey had shown them to her, and that she still had no idea from whence they came. Her listener had made very few comments, but he had shown, quite early in their conversation, a special interest in the personality of Oliver Tropenell. He had even extracted from Katty a physical description of the man she declared to be now Mrs. Pavely's lover, and probable future husband. At first, say during the first half-hour, she had felt extraordinarily at ease with the remarkable old man who had listened to her so attentively, while the fine eyes, which were the most arresting feature of his delicate, highly intelligent countenance, were fixed on her flushed face. But now, with the shadows of evening falling, she could not see him so clearly, and there came a cold feeling about Katty Winslow's heart. There was very little concerning her own past relations with Godfrey Pavely that this stranger did not now know. She felt as if he had uncovered all the wrappings which enfolded her restless, vindictive, jealous soul. But she herself, so far, had learnt nothing from him.