But soon after his retirement, Mrs.
Hannaford spoke of the matter, and no sooner had she mentioned Piers Otway's name than Irene flashed upon her a look of attentive interest.
"Is he related to Jerome Otway, the agitator ?--His son?
How delightful! Oh, I know all about him; I mean, about the old man.

One of our friends at Helsingfors was an old French revolutionist, who has lived a great deal in England; he was always talking about his English friends of long ago, and Jerome Otway often came in.

He didn't know whether he was still alive.

Oh, I must write and tell him." The ladies gave what information they could (it amounted to very little) about the recluse of Wensleydale; then they talked of the young man.
"We knew him at Geneva, first of all," said Mrs.Hannaford.

"Indeed, he lived with us there for a time; he was only a boy, then, and such a nice boy! He has changed a good deal--don't you think so, Olga?
I don't mean for the worse; not at all; but he is not so talkative and companionable.