"What will monsieur desire here?"
Jeremy stood with feet apart, hands behind his back, staring at the house.
"Good mullions, and excellent brickwork. There is a solidity about these Jacobean houses. My good fellow, is your master at home?"
"What will monsieur desire here?"
"Nothing, Pierre, nothing, but a word with your master. Tell him there is a gentleman here who is interested in old houses."
The man looked contemptuously at Winter and returned to the house. De Rothan was waiting in the hall.
"Well, François?"
"A gentleman who loves old houses."
"Thunder, what, a dry-as-dust! Go and tell him the house is not to be viewed."
François went back to Jeremy.