His tone hinted at a question, and the girl adopted therewith an ingenuous duplicity.
"My man and I were of a hunting party," she said; "we went astray in the wood. You, Father, will guide us?"
"Madame has not discovered to me her desire."
"We wish for Gilderoy."
Balthasar rose and pointed with his brush towards the ride by which they had come. He mapped the road for them with sundry jaunty flourishes, and much showing of his white teeth. Yeoland thanked him, but was still curious.
"Ah, Father, whither have we wandered?"
"Men call it Cambremont wood, madame."
"And these buildings? A retreat, doubtless, for holy men."
Balthasar corrected her with much unction.
"The Lord Flavian of Avalon builds here," he said, "but not for monks. I, madame, am his architect, his pedagogue in painting."