’She has.  You may take my word for it.  I know it as a fact.  What a fool that young man is!’

‘Which young man?’

’Which young man!  Conway Dalrymple to be sure.  Artists are always weak.  Of all men in the world they are the most subject to flattery from women; and we all know that Conway Dalrymple is very vain.’

‘Upon my word I didn’t know it,’ said Johnny.

’Yes, you do.  You must know it.  When a man goes about in a purple velvet coat of course he is vain.’

‘I certainly cannot defend a purple velvet coat.’

‘That is what he wore when this girl sat to him this morning.’

‘This morning was it?’

’Yes, this morning.  They little think that they can do nothing without my knowing it.  He was there for nearly four hours, and she was dressed up in a white robe as Jael, with a turban on her head.  Jael indeed!  I call it very improper, and I am quite astonished that Maria Clutterbuck should have lent herself to such a piece of work.  That Maria was never very wise, of course we all know; but I thought that she had principle enough to have kept her from this kind of thing.’

‘It’s her fevered existence,’ said Johnny.

’That’s just it.  She must have excitement.  It is like dram-drinking.  And then, you know, they are always living in the crater of a volcano.’

‘Who are living in the crater of a volcano?’

’The Dobbs Broughtons are.  Of course they are.  There is no saying what day a smash may come.  They City people get so used to it that they enjoy it.  The risk is everything to them.’

‘They like to have a little certainty behind the risk, I fancy.’

’I’m afraid there is very little that’s certain with Dobbs Broughton.  But about this picture, Mr Eames.  I look to you to assist me there.  It must be put a stop to.  As to that I am determined.  It must be—­put a—­stop to.’  And as Miss Demolines repeated these last words with a tremendous emphasis she leant with both her elbows on a little table that stood between her and her visitor, and looked with all her eyes into his face.  ‘I do hope that you agree with me in that,’ said she.

‘Upon my word I do not see the harm of the picture,’ said he.

‘You do not?’

’Indeed no.  Why should not Dalrymple paint Miss Van Siever as well as any other lady?  It is his special business to paint ladies.’

‘Look here, Mr Eames—­’ And now Miss Demolines, as she spoke drew her own seat closer to that of her companion and pushed away the little table.  ’Do you suppose that Conway Dalrymple, in the usual way of his business, paints pictures of young ladies of which their mothers know nothing?  Do you suppose that he paints them in ladies’ rooms without their husbands’ knowledge?  And in the common way of his business does he not expect to be paid for his pictures?’

‘But what is all that to you and me, Miss Demolines?’