She departed for the glasses.  Peter saw that the florist had secured his violets, and took them first and filled a bowl.  Then he walked into the bedroom and contemplated for a minute.  Then he put the violets critically on the little table by the bed nearest the window, and stood back to see the result.  Finding it good, he departed.  When next he came in, it was to place a great bunch of roses on the mantelshelf, and a few sprays of the soft yellow and green mimosa on the dressing-table.  For the sitting-room he had carnations and delphiniums, and he placed a high towering cluster of the latter on the writing-table, and a vase of the former on the mantelpiece.  A few roses, left over, went on the small table that carried the reading-lamp, and he and the chambermaid surveyed the results.

“Lovely, I do think,” she said; “any lady would love them.  I likes flowers myself, I do.  I come from the country, sir, where there’s a many, and the wild flowers that Jack and I liked best of all.  Specially primroses, sir.”  There was a sound in her voice as she turned away, and Peter heard it.

“Jack?” he queried softly.

“’E’s been missing since last July, sir,” she said, stopping by the door.

“Has he?” said Peter.  “Well, you must not give up hope, you know; he may be a prisoner.”

She shook her head.  “He’s dead,” she said, with an air of finality.  “I oughtn’t to have spoke a word, but them flowers reminded me.  I’m glad as how I have to do these rooms, sir.  Most of them don’t bother with flowers.  Is there anything else you might be wanting, sir?”

“Light fires in both the grates, please,” he said.  “I’m so sorry about Jack,” he added.

She gave him a look, and passed out.

Peter wandered about touching this and that.  Suddenly he remembered the magazines.  He ran out and caught a lift about to descend, and was once more in the street.  Near Leicester Square was a big foreign shop, and he entered it, and gathered of all kinds.  As he went to pay, he saw La Vie Parisienne, and added that also to the bundle; Julie used to say she loved it.  Back in the hotel, he sent them to his room, and glanced at his watch.  He had time for tea.  He went out into the lounge and ordered it, sitting back under the palms.  It came, and he was in the act of pouring out a cup when he saw Donovan.

Donovan was with a girl, but so were most men; Peter could not be sure of her.  It was only a glimpse he had, for the two had finished and were passing out.  Donovan stood back to let her first through the great swing-doors, and then, pulling on his gloves, followed.  They both disappeared.