‘Indeed, you may say that,’ Varley burst out in tones of great grievance. ‘The baronet sees visions and all sorts of things.’
‘Is it possible,’ Valerie whispered to her friend, ‘that Hector has really succeeded in gaining an influence over this Sir Geoffrey by those miserable tricks he played so successfully at Rome?’
‘It is very probable,’ Isodore murmured in reply. ‘This Sir Geoffrey is very weak in intellect.—Tell me, Mr Varley,’ she continued, turning in his direction, ‘does the baronet keep much of Monsieur le Gautier’s company? Does he visit at his rooms?’
‘I believe he does; anyway, he goes out at nights, and always comes back looking as if he had seen a ghost. Whatever his game may be—and sure enough there is some game on—it’s killing him by inches, that’s what it’s doing.’
‘And this change you put down to Le Gautier? Perhaps you are right. And now, another question. Is not there another reason, another attraction besides discussing spiritualism with Sir Geoffrey, that takes him to Grosvenor Square?’
Varley so far forgot himself as to wink impressively. ‘You might have made a worse guess than that,’ he said. ‘I am not the only one who can see what his designs are. Miss Enid is the great attraction.’
‘And she?’
‘Hates him, if looks count for anything.—And so do I,’ he continued; ‘and so do all of us, for the matter of that. I would give a year’s salary to see his back turned for good!’
‘Mr Varley,’ Isodore said in grave tones, ‘I sent for you here to work upon your fears, and to compel you, if necessary, to do my bidding. That, I see, is not necessary, for we have a common bond of sympathy. For reasons I need not state here, we have good reasons for keeping a watch over this Le Gautier; but rest assured of one thing—that he will never wed your mistress. I shall hold you to secrecy.—And now, you must promise to get my protégée this situation.’
‘Well, I will do my best,’ Varley replied cheerfully. ‘But how it is going to be done, I really can’t see.’