They lunched at the Ritz and, to her surprise Patricia found herself eating with enjoyment, a thing she had not done for weeks past. She decided that it must be a revulsion of feeling after the menace of roast pork. Elton was a good talker, with a large experience of life and a considerable fund of general information. "I should like to travel," said Patricia as she sipped her coffee in the lounge. "Why?" Elton held a match to her cigarette. "Oh! I suppose because it is enjoyable," replied Patricia; "besides, it educates," she added. "That is too conventional to be worthy of you," said Elton. "How?" queried Patricia. "Most of the dull people I know ascribe their dullness to lack of opportunities for travel. They seem to think that a voyage round the world will make brilliant talkers of the toughest bores." "Am I as tedious as that?" enquired Patricia, looking up with a smile. "Your friend, Mr. Triggs, for instance," continued Elton, passing over Patricia's remark. "He has not travelled, and he is always interesting. Why?" "I suppose because he is Mr. Triggs," said Patricia half to herself. "Exactly," said Elton. "If you were really yourself you would not be----" "So dull," broke in Patricia with a laugh. "So lonely," continued Elton, ignoring the interruption. "Why do you say that?" demanded Patricia. "It's not exactly a compliment." "Intellectual loneliness may be the lot of the greatest social success." "But why do you think I am lonely?" persisted Patricia. "Let us take Mr. Triggs as an illustration. He is direct, unversed in diplomacy, golden-hearted, with a great capacity for friendship and sentiment. When he is hurt he shows it as plainly as a child, therefore we none of us hurt him." "He's a dear!" murmured Patricia half to herself. "If he were in love he would never permit pride to disguise it." Patricia glanced up at Elton: but he was engaged in examining the end of his cigarette. "He would credit the other person with the same sincerity as himself," continued Elton. "The biggest rogue respects an honest man, that is why we, who are always trying to disguise our emotions, admire Mr. Triggs, who would just as soon wear a red beard and false eyebrows as seek to convey a false impression." Patricia found herself wondering why Elton had selected this topic. She was conscious that it was not due to chance. "Is it worth it?" Elton's remark, half command, half question, seemed to stab through her thoughts. She looked up at him, her eyes a little widened with surprise. "Is what worth what?" she enquired. "I was just wondering," said Elton, "if the Triggses are not very wise in eating onions and not bothering about what the world will think." "Eating onions!" cried Patricia. "My medical board is on Tuesday up North," said Elton, "and I shall hope to get back to France. You see things in a truer perspective when you're leaving town under such conditions."