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note attracted some attention from the company. Osmond
waited till this little movement had subsided; then he said,
all undisturbed: ‘I think she has no recollection of having
given it.’
They had been standing with their faces to the fire, and
after he had uttered these last words the master of the house
turned round again to the room. Before Rosier had time
to reply he perceived that a gentleman-a stranger-had just
come in, unannounced, according to the Roman custom,
and was about to present himself to his host. The latter
smiled blandly, but somewhat blankly; the visitor had a
handsome face and a large, fair beard, and was evidently an
Englishman.
‘You apparently don’t recognize me,’ he said with a smile
that expressed more than Osmond’s.
‘Ah yes, now I do. I expected so little to see you.’
Rosier departed and went in direct pursuit of Pansy. He
sought her, as usual, in the neighbouring room, but he again
encountered Mrs. Osmond in his path. He gave his hostess
no greeting-he was too righteously indignant, but said to
her crudely: ‘Your husband’s awfully cold-blooded.’
She gave the same mystical smile he had noticed before.
‘You can’t expect every one to be as hot as yourself.’
‘I don’t pretend to be cold, but I’m cool. What has he
been doing to his daughter?’
‘I’ve no idea.’
‘Don’t you take any interest?’ Rosier demanded with his
sense that she too was irritating.
For a moment she answered nothing; then, ‘No!’ she said

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