'Oh!'

'But he was incapable of it, of course.'

'Of course.'

'He never showed any special interest, then, beyond—'

'Never.'

'I was right, I suppose, as usual. You never appreciated him; he was not the sort of man a woman would appreciate … But he's a great loss to me, Edith. I need a man who can understand—Intellectual sympathy—'

* * * * *

'Mr Vincy!' announced the servant.

Vincy had not lost his extraordinary gift for turning up at the right moment. He was more welcome than ever now.