I'll ask Madame." He need say no more to her this evening, and risk giving himself away.
But had he not already said too much?
Did one ask restaurant proprietors with pretty daughters down to one's country house without design?
Madame Lamotte would see, if Annette didn't.

Well! there was not much that Madame did not see.

Besides, this was the second time he had stayed to supper with them; he owed them hospitality.
Walking home towards Park Lane--for he was staying at his father's--with the impression of Annette's soft clever hand within his own, his thoughts were pleasant, slightly sensual, rather puzzled.

Take steps! What steps?
How?
Dirty linen washed in public?
Pah! With his reputation for sagacity, for far-sightedness and the clever extrication of others, he, who stood for proprietary interests, to become the plaything of that Law of which he was a pillar! There was something revolting in the thought! Winifred's affair was bad enough! To have a double dose of publicity in the family! Would not a liaison be better than that--a liaison, and a son he could adopt?
But dark, solid, watchful, Madame Lamotte blocked the avenue of that vision.

No! that would not work.