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cousins； and they are rich。〃
Mrs。 Dennant took out her handkerchief； and； bending above the rose；
removed a tiny insect。
〃These green…fly get in everywhere；〃 she said。
〃Very sad story； can't they do anything for him？〃 and she made
researches in the rose's heart。
〃He's quarrelled with them； I believe；〃 said Shelton； 〃I have n't
liked to press him； about that。〃
〃No； of course not；〃 assented Mrs。 Dennant absentlyshe had found
another green…fly 〃I always think it's painful when a young man seems
so friendless。〃
Shelton was silent； he was thinking deeply。 He had never before felt
so distrustful of the youthful foreigner。
〃I think；〃 he said at last； 〃the best thing would be for you to see
him for yourself。〃
〃Very well；〃 said Mrs。 Dennant。 〃I should be so glad if you would
tell him to come up。 I must say I do think that was a most touchin'
story about Paris。 I wonder whether this light's strong enough now
for me to photograph this rose。〃
Shelton withdrew and went down…stairs。 Ferrand was still at
breakfast。 Antonia stood at the sideboard carving beef for him； and
in the window sat Thea with her Persian kitten。
Both girls were following the traveller's movements with inscrutable
blue eyes。 A shiver ran down Shelton's spine。 To speak truth； he
cursed the young man's coming； as though it affected his relations
with Antonia。
CHAPTER XXVII
SUB ROSA
》From the interview； which Shelton had the mixed delight of watching；
between Ferrand and the Honourable Mrs。 Dennant； certain definite
results accrued； the chief of which was the permission accorded the
young wanderer to occupy the room which had formerly been tenanted by
the footman John。 Shelton was lost in admiration of Ferrand's manner
in this scene。。 Its subtle combination of deference and dignity was
almost paralysing； paralysing； too； the subterranean smile upon his
lips。
〃Charmin' young man； Dick；〃 said Mrs。 Dennant； when Shelton lingered
to say once more that he knew but very little of him； 〃I shall send a
note round to Mrs。 Robinson at once。 They're rather common； you
knowthe Robinsons。 I think they'll take anyone I recommend。〃
〃I 'm sure they will；〃 said Shelton； 〃that's why I think you ought to
know…〃
But Mrs。 Dennant's eyes； fervent； hare…like； were fixed on something
far away； turning； he saw the rose in a tall vase on a tall and
spindly stool。 It seemed to nod towards them in the sunshine。 Mrs。
Dennant dived her nose towards her camera。
〃The light's perfect now；〃 she said； in a voice muffled by the cloth。
〃I feel sure that livin' with decent people will do wonders for him。
Of course； he understands that his meals will be served to him
apart。〃
Shelton； doubly anxious； now that his efforts had lodged his client
in a place of trust； fell； back on hoping for the best； his instinct
told him that； vagabond as Ferrand was； he had a curious self…
respect； that would save him from a mean ingratitude。
In fact； as Mrs。 Dennant； who was by no means void of common…sense；
foresaw； the arrangement worked all right。 Ferrand entered on his
duties as French tutor to the little Robinsons。 In the Dennants'
household he kept himself to his own room； which； day and night； he
perfumed with tobacco； emerging at noon into the garden； or； if wet；
into the study； to teach young Toddles French。 After a time it
became customary for him to lunch with the house…party； partly
through a mistake of Toddles； who seemed to think that it was
natural； and partly through John Noble； one of Shelton's friends； who
had come to stay； and discovered Ferrand to be a most awfully
interesting person he was always； indeed； discovering the most
awfully interesting persons。 In his grave and toneless voice；
brushing his hair from off his brow； he descanted upon Ferrand with
enthusiasm； to which was joined a kind of shocked amusement； as who
should say； 〃Of course； I know it's very odd； but really he 's such
an awfully interesting person。〃 For John Noble was a politician；
belonging to one of those two Peculiar parties； which； thoroughly in
earnest； of an honesty above suspicion； and always very busy； are
constitutionally averse to anything peculiar for fear of finding they
have overstepped the limit of what is practical in politics。 As such
he inspired confidence； not caring for things unless he saw some
immediate benefit to be had from them； having a perfect sense of
decency； and a small imagination。 He discussed all sorts of things
with Ferrand； on one occasion Shelton overheard them arguing on
anarchism。
〃No Englishman approves of murder；〃 Noble was saying； in the gloomy
voice that contrasted with the optimistic cast of his fine head； 〃but
the main principle is right。 Equalisation of property is bound to
come。 I sympathise with then； not with their methods。〃
〃Forgive me；〃 struck in Ferrand； 〃do you know any anarchists？〃
〃No；〃 returned Noble； 〃I certainly do not。〃
〃You say you sympathise with them； but the first time it comes to
action…〃
〃Well？〃
〃Oh； monsieur！ one doesn't make anarchism with the head。〃
Shelton perceived that he had meant to add； 〃but with the heart； the
lungs； the liver。〃 He drew a deeper meaning from the saying； and
seemed to see； curling with the smoke from Ferrand's lips； the words：
〃What do you； an English gentleman； of excellent position； and all
the prejudices of your class； know about us outcasts？ If you want to
understand us you must be an outcast too； we are not playing at the
game。〃
This talk took place upon the lawn； at the end of one of Toddles's
French lessons； and Shelton left John Noble maintaining to the
youthful foreigner； with stubborn logic； that he； John Noble； and the
anarchists had much； in common。 He was returning to the house； when
someone called his name from underneath the holm oak。 There； sitting
Turkish fashion on the grass； a pipe between his teeth； he found a
man who had arrived the night before； and impressed him by his
friendly taciturnity。 His name was Whyddon； and he had just returned
from Central Africa； a brown…faced； large…jawed man； with small but
good and steady eyes； and strong； spare figure。
〃Oh； Mr。 Shelton！〃 he said； 〃I wondered if you could tell me what
tips I ought to give the servants here； after ten years away I 've
forgotten all about that sort of thing。〃
Shelton sat down beside him； unconsciously assuming； too； a cross…
legged attitude； which caused him much discomfort。
〃I was listening；〃 said his new acquaintance； 〃to the little chap
learning his French。 I've forgotten mine。 One feels a hopeless
duffer knowing no； languages。〃
〃I suppose you speak Arabic？〃 said Shelton。
〃Oh； Arabic； and a dialect or two； they don't count。 That tutor has
a curious face。〃
〃You think so？〃 said Shelton； interested。 〃He's had a curious life。〃
The traveller spread