"Oh she has gone ahead; she's pleased with herself. 'Work, work, work,' said Madame Carre. Well, she has worked, worked, worked. That's what Mr. Dashwood is pleased with even more than with other things." "What do you mean by other things?" "Oh her genius and her fine appearance." "He approves of her fine appearance? I ask because you think he knows what will take." "I know why you ask!" Mrs. Rooth bravely mocked. "He says it will be worth hundreds of thousands to her." "That's the sort of thing I like to hear," Peter returned. "I'll come in to-morrow," he repeated. "And shall you mind if Mr. Dash wood's here?" "Does he come every day?" "Oh they're always at it." "At it----?" He was vague. "Why she acts to him--every sort of thing--and he says if it will do." "How many days has he been here then?" Mrs. Rooth reflected. "Oh I don't know! Since he turned up they've passed so quickly." "So far from 'minding' it I'm eager to see him," Sherringham declared; "and I can imagine nothing better than what you describe--if he isn't an awful ass." "Dear me, if he isn't clever you must tell us: we can't afford to be deceived!" Mrs. Rooth innocently wailed. "What do we know--how can we judge?" she appealed. He had a pause, his hand on the latch. "Oh, I'll tell you frankly what I think of him!" XIX When he got into the street he looked about him for a cab, but was obliged to walk some distance before encountering one. In this little interval he saw no reason to modify the determination he had formed in descending the steep staircase of the Hotel de la Garonne; indeed the desire prompting it only quickened his pace. He had an hour to spare and would also go to see Madame Carre. If Miriam and her companion had proceeded to the Rue de Constantinople on foot he would probably reach the house as soon as they. It was all quite logical: he was eager to see Miriam--that was natural enough; and he had admitted to Mrs. Rooth that he was keen on the subject of Mrs. Lovick's theatrical brother, in whom such effective aid might perhaps reside. To catch Miriam really revealing herself to the old actress after the jump she believed herself to have taken--since that was her errand--would be a very happy stroke, the thought of which made her benefactor impatient. He presently found his cab and, as he bounded in, bade the coachman drive fast. He learned from Madame Carre's portress that her illustrious _locataire_ was at home and that a lady and a gentleman had gone up some time before.