Lord Watergate advanced to meet her, and they shook hands gravely. She had not seen him since the night of the conversazione at the Berkeley Galleries. His ample presence seemed to fill the little room.
"It is a shame," he said, "to come down upon you at this time of night."
She laid Phyllis's note on the table, and turned to him with a smile of deprecation.
"Won't you read your letter before we embark on the question of slides?"
"Thank you. I will just open it."
She broke the seal, advanced to the lamp, and cast her eye hastily over the letter. But something in the contents seemed to rivet her attention, to merit more than a casual glance. For some moments she stood absorbed in the carelessly-written sheet; then, suddenly, an exclamation of sorrow and astonishment burst from her lips.
Lord Watergate advanced towards her.
"Miss Lorimer, you are in some trouble. Can I help you, or shall I go away?"
She looked up, half-bewildered, into the strong and gentle face. Then realising nothing, save that here was a friendly human presence, put the letter into his hand.