They had lunched with him twice in Medchester, and more often still the Enton barouche had been kept waiting at his office whilst Lady Caroom and Sybil descended upon him with invitations from Lord Arranmore.

After his talk with Mr.Ascough he put the matter behind him, but it remained at times an inexplicable puzzle.
On the evening of this particular visit he found Sybil alone in a recess of the drawing-room with a newspaper in her hand.

She greeted him with obvious pleasure.
"Do come and tell me about things, Mr.Brooks," she begged.

"I have been reading the local paper.

Is it true that there are actually people starving in Medchester ?" "There is a great deal of distress," he admitted, gravely.