a conflict is over. Once you've got a man on the canvas, that ought to be the

end of it. You don't then proceed to kick him. To us, the French behaviour has

become increasingly barbarous. "

 

This utterance seemed to give Mr Lewis some satisfaction. He muttered something

in sympathy and smiled with contentment at his fellow diners through the clouds

of tobacco smoke by now hanging thickly across the table.

 

The next morning brought more early arrivals; namely, the two ladies from

Germany - who had travelled together despite what one would have imagined to

have been the great contrast in their backgrounds - bringing with them a large

team of ladies-in-waiting and footmen, as well as a great many trunks. Then in

the afternoon, an Italian gentleman arrived accompanied by a valet, a secretary,

an 'expert' and two bodyguards. I cannot imagine what sort of place this

gentleman imagined he was coming to in bringing the latter, but I must say it

struck something of an odd note to see in Darlington Hall these two large silent

men staring suspiciously in all directions a few yards from wherever the Italian

gentleman happened to be. Incidentally, the working pattern of these bodyguards,

so it transpired over the following days, entailed one or the other of them

going up to sleep at unusual hours so as to ensure at least one was on duty

throughout the night. But when on first hearing of this arrangement I tried to

inform Miss Kenton of it, she once again refused to converse with me, and in

order to accomplish matters as quickly as possible I was actually obliged to

write a note and put it under the door of her parlour.