He bowed, looking at her with fresh interest. His name seemed familiar to her. In a moment or two the unnatural lethargy left her, and she spoke to him, though still in a curiously suppressed tone.
"I beg your pardon. You are welcome. I was a little startled at first."
She rang the bell. Gomez answered it.
"Bring some fresh tea, and some sandwiches and wine," she ordered. "Tell them in the stables to see that this gentleman's horse has every attention."
Gomez received his orders in silence, and withdrew with darkening face. Paul looked after him with surprise.
"Gomez does not seem particularly pleased to see me again," he remarked. "What is the matter with the man, I wonder?"
"It is only his manner, I think," she said softly. "He was your father's servant, was he not?"
"Yes. How did you know that?" he asked quickly. "Ah, I beg your pardon; he told you, of course. You will find him a faithful servant."
She bowed her head, but made no reply. Indeed, Paul found it very difficult to start a conversation of any sort with his new neighbour. To all his remarks she returned only monosyllabic answers, looking at him steadily all the while out of her full, dark eyes in a far-away, wistful manner, as though she saw in his face something which carried her thoughts into another world. It was a little uncomfortable for Paul, and he was not sorry when Gomez reappeared, bearing a tray with refreshments.