"I am aware of that. But it is my concern, nevertheless." She stared at Judith with haunted eyes. "Perhaps I may never see him again. But if he comes back I shall be here." She drew a sobbing breath, and continued in a hard voice: "That, however, is my affair. Lord Worth, you are very obliging. My groom shall bring the horses round during the course of the day. Goodbye!" She held out her hand, but drew it back, flushing a little. "Oh - ! You would rather not shake hands with me, I daresay!"
"I have not the least objection to shaking hands with you," he replied, "But I should be grateful to you if you could contrive to stop being foolish. Now sit down and try to believe that your differences with my brother leave me supremely indifferent."
She smiled faintly, and after a brief hesitation sat down in the chair by the table. "Well, what now?" she asked.
"Are you staying with friends? May I have your direction?"
"I am at the Hotel de Belle Vue."
"Indeed! Alone?"
"Yes, alone, if you discount my maid."
"It will not do," he said. "If you mean to remain in Brussels you must stay here."
She looked at him rather blankly. "You must be mad!"
"I am quite sane, I assure you. It can never be thought desirable for a young and unprotected female to be staying in a public hotel. In a foreign capital, and in such unsettled times as these, it would be the height of folly."