"Go on."
"I had some success, but not much."
"What were your insinuations about? Drink, drug-taking, debt, unfaithfulness to his class?—what?"
"Oh, there was no possibility of doing anything on those lines, although, as I said, there was some disappointment on the last head. But that's nothing. I reflected that he was a young man, and a bachelor—a good-looking bachelor." He added the last words with a suggestive giggle.
"I see. Well?"
"Of course he is a great favourite with the fair sex. By dint of very careful but persistent investigation I discovered that two ladies are deeply in love with him."
Romanoff waited in silence.
"One is the daughter of a wealthy manufacturer, quite the belle of the town among the moneyed classes. I inquired about her. There is no doubt that she's greatly interested in him."
"And he?"
"He's been seen in her company."