“I admit it. Goodrich has a second place. To disturb her admirable peace of mind seemed to us—sacrilege. You upset her, but she cottoned to you.”
“I rattled her,” said Grimshaw. “What the effect will be I can’t predict. Obviously, I’m in for a fight. And the odds are against me, because her son is devoted to her. I am sure that in his place I should feel as he does. But Miss Chandos——!”
“All women are unknown quantities.”
“To old bachelors.”
Pawley rubbed his bony fingers together.
“To all of us and to themselves. I make no prognosis about Cicely. The mother can be diagnosed with greater confidence. Henry Chandos ran this place prehistorically. Lady Selina strolls placidly in his ruts. If I can read the barometer, now apparently at ‘Set Stormy,’ we are likely to witness confounding changes.”
“Here?”
“Everywhere. A universal upheaval.”
“But—good heavens!—you don’t think war is coming?”
“I am quite sure of it. A fight between Democracy and Autocracy.”