"I am," said Verisschenzko, and leaving her for a moment he went and telephoned to his not unintelligent Russian servant at the Ritz to arrange about the transference of his rooms. "She requires the most careful watching--I must waste no time." And then he returned to the party in the hall. CHAPTER X Denzil Ardayre took up his letters which had been forwarded to him from the depot where he was stationed. He and Verisschenzko were passing through the hall of his mother's house, for a talk and a smoke in his sitting-room, after leaving the Carlton. The house was in St. James' Place, a small, old building, the ground floor of which was given over to Denzil whenever he was in London. His mother was absent at Bath, where she spent a long autumn cure. John's letter lay on the top, and Verisschenzko caught the look of interest which came into Denzil's face. "Don't mind me, my dear chap," he remarked, "read your letters." And they went on into the sitting-room. "I want just to look at this one--it is from John Ardayre whom we met to-night," and Denzil opened it casually--"I wonder what he is writing to me about, he did not say anything at dinner." He read the short communication and exclaimed: "Good God!" and then checked himself. He was obviously stirred, and Verisschenzko watched him narrowly. Anything to do with John must concern Amaryllis, and therefore was of profound interest to himself. "No bad news, I hope?" he said. Denzil was gazing into the fire, and there was a look of wonderment and even rapture upon his face. "Oh! No--rather splendid--" He felt quite the strangest emotion he had ever experienced in his life. His usual serene self-confidence and easy flow of words deserted him, and Verisschenzko, watching him, began to link certain things in his mind. "Tell me, what did you think of your cousin, Lady Ardayre?" he asked casually, as though the subject was irrelevant. "Amaryllis?" and Denzil almost started from a reverie. "Oh, yes, of course, she is a lovely creature, is not she, Stepan?" Verisschenzko narrowed his eyes. "I have told you that I adore her--but with the spirit--if it were not so, she would appeal very strongly to the flesh--Yes?--Did you not feel it?" "I did." "Well?" "Well--" "She is longing to understand life, she is groping; why do you not set about her education, Denzil?" "That is the husband's business." "Not in this case. I consider it is yours; you are the right mate for her. John Ardayre is a good fellow, but he stands for nothing in the affair. Why did you waste your time upon Harietta, when time is so short?" "I was given no choice." "But afterwards, in the hall?" It was quite evident to Verisschenzko that the mention of Amaryllis was causing his friend some unexplainable emotion. "You did not even exert yourself, then. Why, Denzil?" Denzil lit a cigarette. "I thought her awfully attractive--it is the first time I have ever seen her--as you know."