He looked at her fixedly. "You were that young lady," he said softly. "Of course, I know that!" "I was," she admitted. "Don't speak to me for a few moments. It was years ago--but----" She bent the screen which she held in her hand until the handle snapped. "You seem," she said, "to have rather exceeded your instructions. I simply wanted to know whether the man was in Paris or not." He bowed. "The man is in England," he said. "Don't you think it might be helpful if you gave me more of your confidence, and told me why you wanted to hear about him?" She shook her head. "I would sooner tell you than any one, Gilbert," she said, "but I do not want to talk about it." "It must be as you will, of course," he answered, "but I hope you will always remember that you could do me no greater kindness--at any time--than to make use of my services. I do not know everything of what happened in Paris--about that time. I do not wish to know. I am content to serve you--blindly." "I will not forget that," she said softly. "If ever the necessity comes I will remind you. There! Let that be the end of it." She changed the subject, giving him to understand that she did not wish to discuss it further. "You are for Marienbad, as usual?" she asked. "Next week," he answered. "One goes from habit, I suppose. No waters upon the earth or under it will ever cure me!" "Liver?" she asked. "Heart!" he declared. "You shouldn't smoke so many cigarettes." "Harmless," he assured her. "I don't inhale." "I think," she said, "that I shall come over next month." "Do!" he begged. "I'll answer for the bridge. May I come and lunch to-morrow?" She turned to a red morocco book by her side. "A bishop and Lady Sarah," she said. "Several more parsons, and I think the duchess." "I'll face 'em," he declared. "I think I shall send for Peggy," Wilhelmina said. "She is always so sweet to the Church." Deyes grinned. "I shall go round and look her up," he declared. "Perhaps she'll come and have lunch with me somewhere." She held out her hand. "You're a good sort to have gone over for me," she said. "The things you tumbled up against you'd better forget." "Until you remind me of them," he said. "Very well, I'll do that. Sorry I didn't run Johnny to earth." He went off, and Wilhelmina after a few minutes went to her desk and wrote a letter to Stephen Hurd.