“Of course,” said Mrs. Dennant, “there are the Foliots; but nobody calls on them.”

“Ah!” said the Connoisseur, “the Foliots—­the Foliots—­the people—­er—­who—­quite so!”

“It’s really distressin’; she looks so sweet ridin’ about.  Many people with worse stories get called on,” continued Mrs. Dennant, with that large frankness of intrusion upon doubtful subjects which may be made by certain people in a certain way, “but, after all, one couldn’t ask them to meet anybody.”

“No,” the Connoisseur assented.  “I used to know Foliot.  Thousand pities.  They say she was a very pretty woman.”

“Oh, not pretty!” said Mrs. Dennant! “more interestin than pretty, I should say.”

Shelton, who knew the lady slightly, noticed that they spoke of her as in the past.  He did not look towards Antonia; for, though a little troubled at her presence while such a subject was discussed, he hated his conviction that her face, was as unruffled as though the Foliots had been a separate species.  There was, in fact, a curiosity about her eyes, a faint impatience on her lips; she was rolling little crumbs of bread.  Suddenly yawning, she muttered some remark, and rose.  Shelton stopped her at the door.

“Where are you going?”

“For a walk.”

“May n’t I come?”.

She shook her head.

“I ’m going to take Toddles.”

Shelton held the door open, and went back to the table.

“Yes,” the Connoisseur said, sipping at his sherry, “I ’m afraid it’s all over with young Foliot.”

“Such a pity!” murmured Mrs. Dennant, and her kindly face looked quite disturbed.  “I’ve known him ever since he was a boy.  Of course, I think he made a great mistake to bring her down here.  Not even bein’ able to get married makes it doubly awkward.  Oh, I think he made a great mistake!”

“Ah!” said the Connoisseur, “but d’ you suppose that makes much difference?  Even if What ’s—­his-name gave her a divorce, I don’t think, don’t you know, that—­”

“Oh, it does!  So many people would be inclined to look over it in time.  But as it is it’s hopeless, quite.  So very awkward for people, too, meetin’ them about.  The Telfords and the Butterwicks—­by the way, they’re comin’ here to dine to-night—­live near them, don’t you know.”

“Did you ever meet her before-er-before the flood?” the Connoisseur inquired; and his lips parting and unexpectedly revealing teeth gave him a shadowy resemblance to a goat.

“Yes; I did meet her once at the Branksomes’.  I thought her quite a charmin’ person.”

“Poor fellow!” said the Connoisseur; “they tell me he was going to take the hounds.”

“And there are his delightful coverts, too.  Algie often used to shoot there, and now they say he just has his brother down to shoot with him.  It’s really quite too melancholy!  Did you know him, Dick?”

“Foliot?” replied Shelton absently.  “No; I never met him:  I’ve seen her once or twice at Ascot.”