"I counted on--on showing you the dales----" Mrs. Borisoff nodded twice or thrice, and laughed, then pointed to the prospect through the window. "This is more interesting. Imagine historians living a thousand years hence--what would they give to see what we see now!" "Oh, one often has that thought. It's about the best way of making ordinary life endurable." They watched the steamers and barges, silent for a minute or two. "So you had rather I didn't give up the castle?" "I should be horribly disappointed." "Yes--no doubt you would. Why did you come to see me to-day? No, no, no! The real reason. "I wanted to talk about Miss Derwent," Piers answered, bracing himself to frankness. Mrs. Borisoff's lips contracted, in something which was not quite a smile, but which became a smile before she spoke. "If you hadn't told the truth, Mr. Otway, I would have sent you about your business. Well, talk of her; I am ready." "But certainly not if it wearies you----" "Talk! talk!" "I'll begin with a question. Does Miss Derwent go much into society?" "No; not very much. And it's only the last few months that she has been seen at all in London--I mean, since the affair that people talked about." "Did they talk--disagreeably?" "Gossip--chatter--half malicious without malicious intention--don't you know the way of the sweet creatures? I would tell you more if I could. The simple truth is that Irene has never spoken to me about it--never once. When it happened, she came suddenly to Paris, to a hotel, and from there wrote me a letter, just saying that her marriage was off; no word of explanation. Of course I fetched her at once to my house, and from that moment to this I have heard not one reference from her to the matter. You would like to know something about the hero? He has been away a good deal--building up the Empire, as they say; which means, of course, looking after his own and other people's dividends." "Thank you. Now let us talk about the Castle." But Mrs. Borisoff was not in a good humour to-day, and Piers very soon took his leave. Her hand felt rather hot; he noticed this particularly, as she let it lie in his longer than usual--part of her absent-mindedness. Piers had often resented, as a weakness, his susceptibility to the influence of others' moods; he did so to-day, when having gone to Mrs. Borisoff in an unusually cheerful frame of mind, he came away languid and despondent. But his scheme of life permitted no such idle brooding as used to waste his days; self-discipline sent him to his work, as usual, through the afternoon, and in the evening he walked ten miles.