They had reached a railing and a gate across the path leading down to the village.  Columbus, waiting to go through, wriggled in a manner that expressed his entire ignorance on the subject.  Juliet leaned against the gate with her face to the western sky.

“My capabilities!” she mused.  “Let me see!  What can I do?” She looked at her companion with a smile.  “I am afraid I shall have to refer you to Lady Joanna Farringmore.  She can tell you—­exactly.”

He made a slight movement of surprise.  “You know the Farringmore family?”

She raised her brows a little.  “Yes.  Do you?”

“By hearsay only.  Lord Wilchester owns the High Shale Mines.  I have never met any of them.”  He spoke without enthusiasm.

“And never want to?” she suggested.  “I quite understand.  I am very tired of them myself just now—­most especially of Lady Joanna.  But perhaps it is rather bad taste to say so, as I have been brought up as her companion from childhood.”

“And now you have left her?” he said.

“Yes I have left her.  I have disapproved of her for some time,” Juliet spoke thoughtfully.  “She is very unconventional, you know.  And I—­well, at heart I fancy I must be rather a prude.  Anyhow, I disapproved, more and more strongly, and at last I came away.”

“That was rather brave of you,” he commented.

“Oh, it wasn’t much of a sacrifice.  I’ve got a little money—­enough to keep me from starvation; but not enough to buy me cigarettes—­at least not the kind I like.”  Juliet’s smile was one of friendly confidence.  “I think it’s about my only real vice, and I’ve never been used to inferior ones.  Do you mind telling me where you get yours?”

He smiled back at her as he felt for his cigarette-case.  “You had better try one and make sure you like them before you get any.”

“Oh, I know I should like them,” she said, “thank you very much.  No, don’t give me one!  I feel as if I’ve begged for it.  But just tell me where you get them, and if they’re not too expensive I’ll buy some to try.”

He held the open cigarette-case in front of her.  “Won’t you honour me by accepting one?” he said.

She hesitated, and then in a moment very charmingly she yielded.  “Thank you—­Mr. Green.  I seem to have accepted a good deal from you to-night.  Thank you very much.”

He made her a slight bow.  “It has been my privilege to serve you,” he said.  “I hope I may have further opportunities of being of use.  I can get you these cigarettes at any time if you like them.  But they are not obtainable locally.”

“Not!” Her face fell.  “How disappointing!”

“Not from my point of view,” he said.  “There’s no difficulty about it.  I can get them for you if you will allow me.”

He struck a match for her, and kindled a cigarette for himself also.

Juliet inhaled a deep breath.  “They are lovely,” she said.  “I knew I should like them when you went past Mrs. Rickett’s smoking one.”