"_He's_ not begun yet!" murmured Charmian to her mother, as the butler led them sedately down a rather long hall, past two or three doors, to the music-room which Elliot had built out at the back of his house. "I never heard that he was going to begin at all. We haven't come here for a performance, but to make an acquaintance." Charmian twisted her lips, and the butler opened the door and announced them. At the end of the room, which was panelled with wood and was high, by a large open fireplace, Max Elliot was sitting with Paul Lane and two other people, a woman and a young man. The woman was large and broad, with brown hair, reckless hazel eyes, and a nose and mouth which suggested a Roman emperor. She looked about thirty-five. In her large ears, which were set very flat against her head, there were long, diamond earrings, and diamonds glittered round her neck. She was laughing when the Mansfields came in, and went on laughing while Max Elliot went to receive them. "Mrs. Shiffney has just come," he said. "Paul has been dining." "And--the other?" murmured Charmian, with a hushed air of awed expectation which was not free from a hint of mockery. Mrs. Mansfield sent her a glance of half-humorous rebuke. "Claude Heath," answered Elliot. "How wonderful he is." "Charmian, don't be tiresome!" observed her mother, as they went toward the fire. The two men got up, and Charmian had an impression of height, of a bony slimness that was almost cadaverous, of irregular features, rather high cheek-bones, brown, very short hair, and large, enthusiastic and observant eyes that glanced almost piercingly at her, and quickly looked away. Mrs. Shiffney remained in her armchair, moved her shoulders, and said in a rather deep, but not disagreeable voice: "Mr. Heath and I are hearing all about 'Marella.' It builds you up if you are a skeleton and pulls you down if you are enormous, as I am. It makes you sleep if you suffer from insomnia, and if you have the sleeping sickness it wakes you up. Dr. Curling has patented it, and feeds his patients on nothing else. Delia is living entirely on it, and is to emerge looking seventeen and a female Sandow. Mr. Heath is longing to try it." She had held out a powerful hand to the new arrivals, and now turned toward the composer, who stood waiting to be introduced. "Oh, but no, please!" said Heath, speaking quickly and almost anxiously, with a certain naivete that was attractive, but that did not suggest simplicity, but rather great sensitiveness of mind. "I never take quack medicines or foods. I have no need to. And I think they're all invented to humbug us." Max Elliot took him by the arm. "I want to introduce you to a dear friend of mine, Mrs. Mansfield." He paused and added: "Mr. Claude Heath--Miss Mansfield."