‘What—­don’t you know?—­everybody did, I thought,’ said the painter.

’A mistake.  Indeed, I should not have come here at all had I not heard the subject mentioned by accident yesterday at Grey’s; and then I remembered her to be the same woman I had met at some place—­Belmaine’s I think it was—­last year, when I thought her just getting on for handsome and clever, not to put it too strongly.’

‘Ah! naturally you would not know much,’ replied Ladywell, in an eager whisper.  ’Perhaps I am judging others by myself a little more than—­but, as you have heard, she is an acquaintance of mine.  I know her very well, and, in fact, I originally suggested the scheme to her as a pleasant way of adding to her fame.  “Depend upon it, dear Mrs. Petherwin,” I said, during a pause in one of our dances together some time ago, “any public appearance of yours would be successful beyond description."’

’O, I had no idea that you knew her so well!  Then it is quite through you that she has adopted this course?’

’Well, not entirely—­I could not say entirely.  She said that some day, perhaps, she might do such a thing; and, in short, I reduced her vague ideas to form.’

’I should not mind knowing her better—­I must get you to throw us together in some way,’ said Neigh, with some interest.  ’I had no idea that you were such an old friend.  You could do it, I suppose?’

’Really, I am afraid—­hah-hah—­may not have the opportunity of obliging you.  I met her at Wyndway, you know, where she was visiting with Lady Petherwin.  It was some time ago, and I cannot say that I have ever met her since.’

‘Or before?’ said Neigh.

‘Well—­no; I never did.’

’Ladywell, if I had half your power of going to your imagination for facts, I would be the greatest painter in England.’

’Now Neigh—­that’s too bad—­but with regard to this matter, I do speak with some interest,’ said Ladywell, with a pleased sense of himself.

‘In love with her?—­Smitten down?—­Done for?’

’Now, now!  However, several other fellows chaff me about her.  It was only yesterday that Jones said—­’

‘Do you know why she cares to do this sort of thing?’

‘Merely a desire for fame, I suppose.’

‘I should think she has fame enough already.’

’That I can express no opinion upon.  I am thinking of getting her permission to use her face in a subject I am preparing.  It is a fine face for canvas.  Glorious contour—­glorious.  Ah, here she is again, for the second part.’

‘Dream on, young fellow.  You’ll make a rare couple!’ said Neigh, with a flavour of superciliousness unheeded by his occupied companion.

Further back in the room were a pair of faces whose keen interest in the performance contrasted much with the languidly permissive air of those in front.  When the ten minutes’ break occurred, Christopher was the first of the two to speak.  ‘Well, what do you think of her, Faith?’ he said, shifting restlessly on his seat.