‘What are you doing?’ Malkin inquired of the journalist.  ’How long shall you be here?  Why haven’t I heard from you?’

‘I go to London to-night.’

’And we to-morrow.  On Friday I’ll look you up.  Stay, can’t you dine with me this evening?  Anywhere you like.  These ladies will be glad to be rid of me, and to dine in peace at their hotel.’

‘O Mr. Malkin!’ piped the widow, ’you know how very far that is from the truth.  But we shall be very glad indeed to know that you are enjoying yourself with Mr. Earwaker.’

The friends made an appointment to meet near the Madeleine, and Earwaker hastened to escape the sound of Mrs. Jacox’s voice.

Punctual at the rendezvous, Malkin talked with his wonted effusiveness as he led towards the Cafe Anglais.

’I’ve managed it, my boy!  The most complete success!  I had to run over to Boston to get hold of a scoundrelly relative of that poor woman.  You should have seen how I came over him—­partly dignified sternness, partly justifiable cajolery.  The affair only wanted some one to take it up in earnest.  I have secured her about a couple of hundred a year—­withheld on the most paltry and transparent pretences.  They’re going to live at Wrotham, in Kent, where Mrs Jacox has friends.  I never thought myself so much of a man of business.  Of course old Haliburton, the lawyer, had a hand in it, but without my personal energy it would have taken him a year longer.  What do you think of the girls?  How do you like Bella?’

‘A pretty child.’

’Child?  Well, yes, yes—­immature of course; but I’m rather in the habit of thinking of her as a young lady.  In three years she’ll be seventeen, you know.  Of course you couldn’t form a judgment of her character.  She’s quite remarkably mature for her age; and, what delights me most of all, a sturdy Radical!  She takes the most intelligent interest in all political and social movements, I assure you!  There’s a great deal of democratic fire in her.’

‘You’re sure it isn’t reflected from your own fervour?’

’Not a bit of it!  You should have seen her excitement when we were at the Bastille Column yesterday.  She’ll make a splendid woman, I assure you.  Lily’s very interesting, too—­profoundly interesting.  But then she is certainly very young, so I can’t feel so sure of her on the great questions.  She hasn’t her sister’s earnestness, I fancy.’

In the after-glow of dinner, Malkin became still more confidential.

’You remember what I said to you long since?  My mind is made up—­ practically made up.  I shall devote myself to Bella’s education, in the hope—­you understand me?  Impossible to have found a girl who suited better with my aspirations.  She has known the hardships of poverty, poor thing, and that will keep her for ever in sympathy with the downtrodden classes.  She has a splendid intelligence, and it shall be cultivated to the utmost.’