But Daisy was silent, looking straight before her.
"Surely," said Hunt-Goring, through a cloud of aromatic smoke, "whether there is anything in the tale or not, the fewer that know of it—the better."
"Oh, I don't know." Daisy spoke as if compelled. "No woman ought to be married blindfold. It is too great a risk."
Hunt-Goring leaned back again in his chair. "If I were in your place, I should maintain a discreet silence," he said.
"I don't think you would," said Daisy.
He inhaled a long breath of smoke. "If I didn't, I should approach the girl herself—find out what she knows—and, with great discretion, put her on her guard. I don't think you would gain much by opening up the matter in any other quarter."
"You mean it would be no good to discuss it with Nick?" said Daisy.
Hunt-Goring looked at the end of his cigarette. "Perhaps I do mean that," he said. "He would probably prevent it coming to Olga's knowledge if he had set his heart on the match."
"He couldn't prevent my telling her," said Daisy quickly.
"No?" Hunt-Goring gave utterance to his silky laugh. "Well," he said, "my experience of Nick Ratcliffe is not a very extensive one; but I should certainly say that he knows how to get his own way in most things. Perhaps you have never come into collision with him?"