The Secretary takes a mirror from his drawer and smartens himself before going out.  Ridgeon comes in.

Ridgeon.  Good morning.  May I look round, as well, before the doors open?

The Secretary.  Certainly, Sir Colenso.  I’m sorry catalogues have not come:  I’m just going to see about them.  Heres my own list, if you dont mind.

Ridgeon.  Thanks.  Whats this? [He takes up one the new books].

The Secretary.  Thats just come in.  An advance copy of Mrs Dubedat’s Life of her late husband.

Ridgeon [reading the title] The Story of a King By His Wife. [He looks at the portrait frontise].  Ay:  there he is.  You knew him here, I suppose.

The Secretary.  Oh, we knew him.  Better than she did, Sir Colenso, in some ways, perhaps.

Ridgeon.  So did I. [They look significantly at one another].  I’ll take a look round.

The Secretary puts on the shining hat and goes out.  Ridgeon begins looking at the pictures.  Presently he comes back to the table for a magnifying glass, and scrutinizes a drawing very closely.  He sighs; shakes his head, as if constrained to admit the extraordinary fascination and merit of the work; then marks the Secretary’s list.  Proceeding with his survey, he disappears behind the screen.  Jennifer comes back with her book.  A look round satisfies her that she is alone.  She seats herself at the table and admires the memoir—­her first printed book—­to her heart’s content.  Ridgeon re-appears, face to the wall, scrutinizing the drawings.  After using his glass again, he steps back to get a more distant view of one of the larger pictures.  She hastily closes the book at the sound; looks round; recognizes him; and stares, petrified.  He takes a further step back which brings him nearer to her.

Ridgeon [shaking his head as before, ejaculates] Clever brute! [She flushes as though he had struck her.  He turns to put the glass down on the desk, and finds himself face to face with her intent gaze].  I beg your pardon.  I thought I was alone.

Jennifer [controlling herself, and speaking steadily and meaningly] I am glad we have met, Sir Colenso Ridgeon.  I met Dr Blenkinsop yesterday.  I congratulate you on a wonderful cure.

Ridgeon [can find no words; makes an embarrassed gesture of assent after a moment’s silence, and puts down the glass and the Secretary’s list on the table].

Jennifer.  He looked the picture of health and strength and prosperity. [She looks for a moment at the walls, contrasting Blenkinsop’s fortune with the artist’s fate].

Ridgeon [in low tones, still embarrassed] He has been fortunate.

Jennifer.  Very fortunate.  His life has been spared.

Ridgeon.  I mean that he has been made a Medical Officer of Health.  He cured the Chairman of the Borough Council very successfully.