"It must be a dreadful blow to your self-esteem, Yvonne, but I really came here expecting to see him. When does he return?"
Yvonne rose as a maid entered with a tray bearing decanter and syphon. "On Tuesday morning if the Channel is clear. Will you help yourself or shall I pour out until you say 'When'?"
"Please help me. You cannot imagine how delightful it is to be waited upon by a nice girl after grubbing over there."
"When do you have to go back, Don?"
"I have a clear week yet. When! How is Paul progressing with the book, Yvonne?"
"He has been collecting material for months, and of course his present visit to France is for material, too. I think he has practically completed the first part, but I have no idea what form it is finally to take."
"His article in the Review made a stir."
"Wasn't it extraordinary!" cried Yvonne, seating herself beside Don on the low window-seat and pressing the cushions with her hands. "We were simply snowed under with letters from all sorts of people, and quite a number of them called in person, even after Paul had left London."
"Did you let them in?"
"No; some of them quite frightened me. There was one old clergyman who seemed very suspicious when Eustace told him that Paul was abroad. He stood outside the house for quite a long time, banging his stick on the pavement and coughing in a nasty barking fashion. I was watching him through the curtains of an upstairs window. He left a tract behind called The Path is Straight but Narrow."