In a low tone she said to him:
"Your mother has been to see me; talk about dramatic scenes, we had one. Has she told you anything about it?"
"No," he replied: "she does not speak to me; I am in disgrace; my lady passes me in silent dignity. She was just going to Lady Marion's room when I came away, but she did not speak to me. What was the object of her visit, Leone?"
"It was about Berlin," she said, in a low voice.
He started.
"Has she been to you about that?" he asked. "I thought she had exhausted all the remarks she had to make on that subject."
The green foliage and crimson flowers of a huge camellia bent over them. Lord Chandos pushed aside the crimson flowers so that he might more clearly see his companion's face.
"What has my mother said to you about Berlin, Leone?" he asked.
"She came to beg of me to forbid you to go. She says if you go either with me or after me you will be a ruined man."
"It will be a most sweet ruin," he whispered.