Jolyon received that card the same afternoon,and turned his face towards the Connoisseurs.What did Soames want now?Had he got wind of Paris?And stepping across St.James's Street,he determined to make no secret of his visit.'But it won't do,'he thought,'to let him know she's there,unless he knows already.'
In this complicated state of mind he was conducted to where Soames was drinking tea in a small bay-window.
"No tea,thanks,"said Jolyon,"but I'll go on smoking if I may."The curtains were not yet drawn,though the lamps outside were lighted;the two cousins sat waiting on each other.
"You've been in Paris,I hear,"said Soames at last.
"Yes;just back."
"Young Val told me;he and your boy are going off,then?"Jolyon nodded.
"You didn't happen to see Irene,I suppose.It appears she's abroad somewhere."Jolyon wreathed himself in smoke before he answered:"Yes,I saw her.""How was she?"
"Very well."
There was another silence;then Soames roused himself in his chair.
"When I saw you last,"he said,"I was in two minds.We talked,and you expressed your opinion.I don't wish to reopen that discussion.I only wanted to say this:My position with her is extremely difficult.I don't want you to go using your influence against me.What happened is a very long time ago.I'm going to ask her to let bygones be bygones.""You have asked her,you know,"murmured Jolyon.
"The idea was new to her then;it came as a shock.But the more she thinks of it,the more she must see that it's the only way out for both of us.""That's not my impression of her state of mind,"said Jolyon with particular calm."And,forgive my saying,you misconceive the matter if you think reason comes into it at all."He saw his cousin's pale face grow paler--he had used,without knowing it,Irene's own words.