But she refused. 'If necessary,' she said, 'I will go to Orvieto. There is a good man there. But there is some one else you shall write to, if you like:—Reggie! Didn't you see him last week?'
'Certainly. Reggie and the first secretary left in charge, sitting in their shirt-sleeves, with no tempers to speak of, and the thermometer at 96. But Reggie was to get his holiday directly.'
'Write and catch him.'
'Tell him to come not later than Tuesday, please,' said Lucy, quietly, who was standing by.
'Despot!' said Eleanor, looking up. 'Are we really tied and bound to
Friday?'
Lucy smiled and nodded. When she went away Manisty sat in a black silence, staring at the ground. Eleanor bit her lip, grew a little restless, and at last said:
'She gives you no openings?'
Manisty laughed.
'Except for rebuffs!' he said, bitterly.
'Don't provoke them!'