The wink and the speech were lost on Hengist, for he was being worried by Lady Richardson. She danced before him, a pretty figure gowned in burnt-almond red, and would have distracted his heart with daintiness but that Julia kept that article in the nursery. "Do join us, Lord Hengist," she pleaded seductively. "Such fun, when you know the ropes. Billy can show them to you." "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings," quoted Hengist, ironically. "Quite a new reading, Lady Richardson." "Now you are horrid," said the widow, who did not know in the least what he meant. "I'll tell your wife. By the way, how is she, and the darling, darling twins? Twins are too sweet. I wish Billy was a twin." "One of Sir William is quite sufficient." "I'm sure I don't know what you are talking about, and it's very horrid of you to say so. Billy is adored." "Is he ever whipped?" Lady Richardson gave a scream. "How barbarous! The man who tried to whip Billy would have to order his coffin beforehand. Billy can handle his bunches of fives, I can tell you, Lord Hengist." "His what?" "It's Billy's way of putting boxing. You should see him give the postman's knock! Oh, he _is_ clever! He can drive a motor, too, and pick out the winner five times out of ten." "Does he know the kings of England?" "No; he hasn't been to Court yet, and of course, there's only one. How funny you are! Well," Lady Richardson put her head on one side like a coaxing cock-robin, "are you coming with Billy and me? Do, oh do! We have afternoon tea with Monsieur Aksakoff and his daughter." "What's that?" asked Leah, overhearing the names; "the Russian man?" "Stiff sort of fella'!" said young Eton. "Nothin' birdish about him. Daughter's a clipper, though. Say, little mother, we'd best get. Th' train won't wait, y' know." Before he had finished speaking Lady Jim had made up her mind. She had not heard from Demetrius, and it was not impossible that he had written to Katinka. In spite of his discouraging love-making he kept in with her, on the chance that she might be able to procure his pardon, and in any case she was useful in keeping him posted in the doings of the Third Section. The girl was so infatuated that she never saw he was making use of her in this way, and constantly wrote to him about any official gossip she heard. There was something pathetic in her devotion and heart-whole love for the man who deceived her. But Leah did not look at the matter in this way. She knew that Katinka, if any one, would have news of the doctor, and being anxious to learn how Garth was progressing towards the grave, she turned to Hengist. "I think I'll go over," she said in a low voice. "Jim asked me to see M. Aksakoff on some business. Would Julia mind?" "Not at all," said Hengist, heartily, and quite deceived. "I would escort you, only I have some letters to write about the distress in London." "Oh, Billy will look after us," said that young gentleman's mother.