When Larry had first entered, she had merely given him an unsurprised "good-evening" and permitted him to pass on.

But now, as he told her good-night and turned to leave, she said in her thin, monotonous voice: "Sit down for a minute, Larry.

I want to talk to you." Larry obeyed.

"Yes, grandmother." But the Duchess did not at once speak.

She held her red-rimmed, unblinking eyes on him steadily.