The duty was imposed on her of communicating the story to the Marquis; but before she did so she was surprised by a visit from Mr. Greenwood. Mr. Roberts had used no more than the violence of argument, and Mr. Greenwood had been induced to take himself to Shrewsbury on the day named for his departure. If he went he would have £200 a year from the Marquis,--and £100 would be added by Lord Hampstead, of which the Marquis need not know anything. Unless he went on the day fixed that £100 would not be added. A good deal was said on either side, but he went. The Marquis had refused to see him. The Marchioness had bade him adieu in a most formal manner,--in a manner quite unbecoming those familiar suggestions which, he thought, had been made to him as to a specially desirable event. But he had gone, and as he went he told himself that circumstances might yet occur in the family which might be of use to him. He, too, had heard the great family news,--perhaps through some under-satellite of the Foreign Office, and he came with the idea that he would be the first to make it known at Trafford Park. He would have asked for the Marquis, but he knew that the Marquis would not receive him. Lady Kingsbury consented to see him, and he was ushered up to the room to which he had so often made his way without any asking. "I hope you are well, Mr. Greenwood," she said. "Are you still staying in the neighbourhood?" It was, however, well known at Trafford that he was at Shrewsbury. "Yes, Lady Kingsbury. I have not gone from the neighbourhood. I thought that perhaps you might want to see me again." "I don't know that we need trouble you, Mr. Greenwood." "I have come with some news respecting the family." As he said this he managed to assume the old look, and stood as though he had never moved from the place since he had last been in the room. "Do sit down, Mr. Greenwood. What news?" "Mr. George Roden, the clerk in the Post Office--" But she was not going to have the tidings repeated to her by him, so as to give him any claim to gratitude for having brought them. "You mean the Duca di Crinola!" "Oh," exclaimed Mr. Greenwood. "I have heard all that, Mr. Greenwood." "That the Post Office clerk is an Italian nobleman?" "It suited the Italian nobleman for a time to be a Post Office clerk. That is what you mean." "And Lady Frances is to be allowed--" "Mr. Greenwood, I must ask you not to discuss Lady Frances here." "Oh! Not to discuss her ladyship!" "Surely you must be aware how angry the Marquis has been about it." "Oh!" He had not seated himself, nor divested himself of that inquisitorial appearance which was so distasteful to her. "We used to discuss Lady Frances sometimes, Lady Kingsbury." "I will not discuss her now. Let that be enough, Mr. Greenwood." "Nor yet Lord Hampstead." "Nor yet Lord Hampstead. I think it very wrong of you to come after all that took place. If the Marquis knew it--"