Jane sat looking at it, and wondering whether Renata could have translated a single line of it, and how much ignorance it would behove her to display.

After a moment’s thought she turned round and said timidly, “May I have a dictionary, please?”

Lady Heritage looked up from the papers before her. She frowned and said:

“A dictionary?”

“Yes, for the French letter.”

“You don’t know French, then?”

Jane met the half-sarcastic look with protest.

“Oh yes, I do. But, if I might have a dictionary——”

Lady Heritage pointed to the bookcase and went back to her papers.

An imp of mischief entered into Jane.