He intended to take the earliest opportunity of telling her all about the work he was endeavoring to carry out at Osterno, and the knowledge that he was withholding something from her was a constant burden to an upright and honest nature.
"I think," he said one morning to Steinmetz, "that I will write and tell Mrs.Sydney Bamborough all about this place." "I should not do that," replied Steinmetz with a leisurely promptitude.
They were alone in a great smoking-room of which the walls were hung all round with hunting trophies.

Paul was smoking a post-prandial cigar.
Steinmetz reflected gravely over a pipe.

They were both reading Russian newspapers--periodicals chiefly remarkable for that which they leave unsaid.
"Why not ?" asked Paul.
"On principle.

Never tell a woman that which is not interesting enough to magnify into a secret." Paul turned over his newspaper.

He began reading again.