“I agree!” said the Marchese. “And this is why I cannot understand the action of Dimitrius in advertising for an assistant----” “Oh, has he done so?” inquired Diana, indifferently. “Yes,--for the last couple of months he has put a most eccentric advertisement in many of the journals, seeking the services of an elderly woman as assistant or secretary--I don’t know which. It’s some odd new notion of his, and, I venture to think, rather a mistaken one--for if he will not trust a man student, how much less can he rely on an old woman!” “Eccellenza, you are talking to a woman now,” said Diana, calmly. “But never mind! Go on--and don’t apologise!” Farnese’s dark olive skin flushed red. “But I must!” he stammered, awkwardly. “I ask a thousand pardons!” She glanced at him sideways with a laughing look. “You are forgiven!” she said. “Women are quite hardened to the ironies and satires of your sex upon us,--and if we have any cleverness at all we are more amused by them than offended. For we know you cannot do without us! But certainly it is very odd that Dr. Dimitrius should advertise for an old woman! I never heard anything quite so funny!” “He does not, I think, advertise for an actually old woman,” said Farnese, relieved to find that she had taken his clumsy remark so lightly. “The advertisement when I saw it mentioned a woman of mature years.” “Oh, well, that’s a polite way of saying an old woman, isn’t it?” smiled Diana. “And--do tell me!--has he got her?” “Why no!--not yet. Probably he will not get her at all. Even let us suppose a woman offered herself who admitted that she was ‘of mature years,’ that very fact would be sufficient proof of her incapacity.” “Indeed!” and Diana lifted her eyebrows again. “Why?” The Marchese smiled a superior smile. “Perhaps I had better not explain!” he said. “But for a woman to arrive at ‘mature years’ without any interests in life except to offer her probably untrained services to a man she knows nothing of except through the medium of an advertisement is plain evidence that any such woman must be a fool!” Diana laughed merrily--and her laughter was the prettiest ripple of music. “Oh, yes!--of course! I see your meaning!” she said. “You are quite right! But after all perhaps the elderly female is only wanted to add up accounts, or write down measurements or something of that kind--just ordinary routine work. Some lonely old spinster with no claims upon her might be glad of such a chance----” “Are you discussing my advertisement?” interrupted Dimitrius suddenly, sending a glance and smile at Diana from the head of the table. “I have withdrawn it.” “Have you really?” said the Marchese. “That is not to say you are suited?”