"By Jove!" he exclaimed. "Just like me! I forgot that poor Darche drowned himself." Marion recovered herself quickly and came forward, offering her box of cigarettes to everybody, while Brett carried the little silver spirit lamp. "You must all smoke and make yourselves happy," she said with a smile. "Cousin Annie does not mind it in the least." "Well, of course," began Mrs. Willoughby, primly polite, "nowadays--" "There is nobody like you, Mrs. Darche," said Vanbrugh, accepting the offer. "Thanks." "They are your especial kind," answered Marion. "I know they are--that is what I mean. How you spoil me!" Marion went on. "Mr. Brown?" "Yes, thank you. I do smoke sometimes," answered Mr. Brown, hesitating in the matter between his allegiance to Mrs. Willoughby, who disapproved of smoking in the drawing-room, and his duty to his hostess, who encouraged it. "I hope you always do," said Marion. "When a man does not smoke--Mr. Brett, take one." She had stopped herself, remembering that her husband had not been a smoker, but Mr. Brown finished the sentence for her with his usual tact. "Yes," he said, lighting his cigarette, "men who do not smoke always seem to me to be suspicious characters." "Dolly, try one," said Marion, trying not to hear him. "Oh, Marion!" Dolly laughed. "Try it," said Vanbrugh, sitting down beside her. The party had paired off, and Marion found herself near the window with Brett, beside a table covered with photographs and etchings. "I wonder why Miss Maylands should seem shocked," began Brett, entering into conversation rather awkwardly. "I have no doubt that she, and you, and perhaps Mrs. Willoughby, have all tried a cigarette in secret, and perhaps you have liked it?" "If I liked cigarettes I would smoke them," said Mrs. Darche, with decision. "Do you always do what you like?" "In little things." "And how about the big things?" inquired Brett. "I like to have other people take care of them for me." "What people?" As he asked the question he absently took a photograph from the table and looked at it. "People who know me," said Marion. "Meaning me?" "If you like." "If I like!" exclaimed Brett. Then, having broken the ice, as it were, his voice suddenly changed. "There is nothing I like so much, there is nothing I would rather do than take care of you and what belongs to you." "You have shown it," answered Mrs. Darche gently. She took the photograph from Brett's hand and looked at it, in her turn, without seeing it. "I have tried to, once or twice," said Brett, "when you needed help." "Indeed you have. And you know that I am grateful too." "I do not care to know that," he replied. "If I ever did anything for you--it was only what any other man would have done in my place--it was not for the sake of earning your gratitude." "For what then?" Brett hesitated a moment before he answered, and then turned from her towards the window as he spoke. "It was not for the sake of anything."