Julie, is proud of her cleverness, puts her forward in every way, tells most unnecessary falsehoods about her—­Julie has felt that very much—­and then when Julie has a great success, when people begin to come to Bruton Street, for her sake as well as Lady Henry’s, then Lady Henry turns against her, complains of her to everybody, talks about treachery and disloyalty and Heaven knows what, and begins to treat her like the dirt under her feet!  How can Julie help being clever and agreeable—­she is clever and agreeable!  As Mr. Montresor said to me yesterday, ’As soon as that woman comes into a room, my spirits go up!’ And why?  Because she never thinks of herself, she always makes other people show at their best.  And then Lady Henry behaves like this!” The Duchess threw out her hands in scornful reprobation.  “And the question is, of course, Can it go on?”

“I don’t gather,” said Sir Wilfrid, hesitating, “that Lady Henry wants immediately to put an end to it.”

Delafield gave an angry laugh.

“The point is whether Mademoiselle Julie and Mademoiselle Julie’s friends can put up with it much longer.”

“You see,” said the Duchess, eagerly, “Julie is such a loyal, affectionate creature.  She knows Lady Henry was kind to her, to begin with, that she gave her great chances, and that she’s getting old and infirm.  Julie’s awfully sorry for her.  She doesn’t want to leave her all alone—­to the mercy of her servants—­”

“I understand the servants, too, are devoted to Mademoiselle Julie?” said Sir Wilfrid.

“Yes, that’s another grievance,” said Delafield, contemptuously.  “Why shouldn’t they be?  When the butler had a child very ill, it was Mademoiselle Julie who went to see it in the mews, who took it flowers and grapes—­”

“Lady Henry’s grapes?” threw in Sir Wilfrid.

“What does it matter!” said Delafield, impatiently.  “Lady Henry has more of everything than she knows what to do with.  But it wasn’t grapes only!  It was time and thought and consideration.  Then when the younger footman wanted to emigrate to the States, it was Mademoiselle Julie who found a situation for him, who got Mr. Montresor to write to some American friends, and finally sent the lad off, devoted to her, of course, for life.  I should like to know when Lady Henry would have done that kind of thing!  Naturally the servants like her—­she deserves it.”

“I see—­I see,” said Sir Wilfrid, nodding gently, his eyes on the carpet.  “A very competent young lady.”

Delafield looked at the older man, half in annoyance, half in perplexity.

“Is there anything to complain of in that?” he said, rather shortly.

“Oh, nothing, nothing!” said Sir Wilfrid, hastily.  “And this word intrigue that Lady Henry uses?  Has mademoiselle always steered a straightforward course with her employer?”