Chapter 14

           AshecameoutintothelobbyArcherranacrosshisfriendNedWinsett,theonlyoneamongwhatJaneycalledhis"cleverpeople"withwhomhecaredtoprobeintothingsalittledeeperthantheaveragelevelofclubandchop-housebanter.Hehadcaughtsight,acrossthehouse,ofWinsett’sshabbyround-shoulderedback,andhadoncenoticedhiseyesturnedtowardtheBeaufortbox.Thetwomenshookhands,andWinsettproposedabockatalittleGermanrestaurantaroundthecorner.Archer,whowasnotinthemoodforthekindoftalktheywerelikelytogetthere,declinedonthepleathathehadworktodoathome;andWinsettsaid:"Oh,wellsohaveIforthatmatter,andI’llbetheIndustriousApprenticetoo."Theystrolledalongtogether,andpresentlyWinsettsaid:"Lookhere,whatI’mreallyafteristhenameofthedarkladyinthatswellboxofyours—withtheBeauforts,wasn’tshe?TheoneyourfriendLeffertsseemssosmittenby."Archer,hecouldnothavesaidwhy,wasslightlyannoyed.WhatthedevildidNedWinsettwantwithEllenOlenska’sname?Andaboveall,whydidhecoupleitwithLefferts’s?ItwasunlikeWinsetttomanifestsuchcuriosity;butafterall,Archerremembered,hewasajournalist."It’snotforaninterview,Ihope?"helaughed."Well—notforthepress;justformyself,"Winsettrejoined."Thefactisshe’saneighbourofmine—queerquarterforsuchabeautytosettlein—andshe’sbeenawfullykindtomylittleboy,whofelldownherareachasinghiskitten,andgavehimselfanastycut.