He held her hand lingeringly for a moment, and looked into her face. As he went downstairs he thought a good deal about her. She interested him. If he married, he would as soon have clever and original Florence Aylmer for his wife as any other woman he had ever met.
He was just leaving the house when he came face to face with Trevor. Maurice was hurrying into the house as Franks was going out. The sub-editor of the Argonaut started when he saw Trevor.
"Hallo," he said, "who would have thought to see you here? How are you?"
"Quite well, thank you."
"I imagined you to be in the country safe with that kind old lady who is feathering your nest."
"I don't think that will come off, Franks; but I do not feel inclined to discuss it. I have come up to town to see Miss Aylmer. How is she?"
"Quite well, or, rather, no: I don't think she is very well. I have just seen her. What a wonderfully clever girl she is!"
"So it seems," said Trevor, in a somewhat impatient tone. "Is she in?"
"Yes; I have just come from her."
"Then I won't detain you now." Trevor ran upstairs, and Franks went quickly back to his office.