"The world always treats me as I treat it," he said. "Lately I have not had much to say to it; in fact, I have done nothing, and so I have heard nothing. Tell me news. Anybody fresh about?" "Only Jim Spencer, and he's rather a disappointment. As rich as Croesus, you know?" "That's always an advantage for him and his friends," remarked Silly Billy candidly. "I should like to meet him. Does he play Bridge, or bet, or anything?" She laughed. "You are always refreshing," she said, "because you are so very frank. Does it pay?" "Well, you must do one of two things," said he. "You must be absolutely enigmatical or quite transparent. I am quite transparent. I want other people's money." "Shall I draw you a small cheque?" "No, thanks; small cheques would be no good. By the way, I have heard something about Jim Spencer.... Isn't he a friend of Marie Alston?" Lady Brereton could not help smiling, and her inward anger licked its lips. "Ah! you have heard that too," she said. "But who cares?" "Any one may do precisely what they please, so far as I am concerned," said Silly Billy, "so long as it doesn't personally annoy me. So it's true, is it?" "Dear Marie!" observed Mildred. "You see, they were engaged years and years ago. Marie told me so herself." Silly Billy considered a moment. "What have you quarrelled with her about?" he asked after a short pause. Mildred turned round. "Now, how on earth did you guess that?" she asked. "Pretty simple. You said 'Dear Marie!' in--well, in a tone. So the Snowflake is melting, you think! I'm sure I tried to melt her often enough. But I never had the very slightest success." Mildred laughed. "How funny!" she said. "I never knew that. What did Marie do?" "Looked bored. Merely bored; not shocked, but bored. But Jim Spencer doesn't bore her, you think? I suppose you are telling everybody about it?" "I haven't told a soul. It seems there is no need." "Well, thank God, I'm no prude," said Silly Billy, as they stopped at the house. "Dear Marie!" said Mildred again. "Perhaps I ought never to have discussed it with you. You are such a gossip, Silly Billy." He shrugged his shoulders. "Surely that is what you want," he said, and Mildred did not contradict him. Nor did she feel that she had been wasting time.