His fellow visitor barely hesitated. “It would be his own if he were free--and it would be Lord Petherton’s FOR him. I mean by his being free Nanda’s becoming definitely lost to him. Then it would be impossible for Mrs. Brook to continue to persuade him, as she does now, that by a waiting game he’ll come to his chance. His chance will cease to exist, and he wants so, poor darling, to marry. You’ve really now seen my niece,” she went on. “That’s another reason why I hold you can help me.” “Yes--I’ve seen her.” “Well, there she is.” It was as if in the pause that followed this they sat looking at little absent Aggie with a wonder that was almost equal. “The good God has given her to me,” the Duchess said at last. “It seems to me then that she herself is, in her remarkable loveliness, really your help.” “She’ll be doubly so if you give me proofs that you believe in her.” And the Duchess, appearing to consider that with this she had made herself clear and her interlocutor plastic, rose in confident majesty. “I leave it to you.” Mr. Longdon did the same, but with more consideration now. “Is it your expectation that I shall speak to Mr. Mitchett?” “Don’t flatter yourself he won’t speak to YOU!” Mr. Longdon made it out. “As supposing me, you mean, an interested party?” She clapped her gloved hands for joy. “It’s a delight to hear you practically admit that you ARE one! Mr. Mitchett will take anything from you--above all perfect candour. It isn’t every day one meets YOUR kind, and he’s a connoisseur. I leave it to you--I leave it to you.” She spoke as if it were something she had thrust bodily into his hands and wished to hurry away from. He put his hands behind him--straightening himself a little, half-kindled, still half-confused. “You’re all extraordinary people!” She gave a toss of her head that showed her as not so dazzled. “You’re the best of us, caro mio--you and Aggie: for Aggie’s as good as you. Mitchy’s good too, however--Mitchy’s beautiful. You see it’s not only his money. He’s a gentleman. So are you. There aren’t so many. But we must move fast,” she added more sharply. “What do you mean by fast?” “What should I mean but what I say? If Nanda doesn’t get a husband early in the business--” “Well?” said Mr. Longdon, as she appeared to pause with the weight of her idea. “Why she won’t get one late--she won’t get one at all. One, I mean, of the kind she’ll take. She’ll have been in it over-long for THEIR taste.” She had moved, looking off and about her--little Aggie always on her mind--to the flight of steps, where she again hung fire; and had really ended by producing in him the manner of keeping up with her to challenge her. “Been in what?” She went down a few steps while he stood with his face full of perceptions strained and scattered. “Why in the air they themselves have infected for her!” V