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Updated: June 26, 2025
If Harry's had been unconscious, if the mood had played the man, the deception was the more complete. He went to see Lady Evenswood one day; she had sent to express her desire for a talk before she fled to the country. She had much that was pleasant to say, much of the prospects of his success, of his "training-on," as easy-mannered Theo had put it to Mina Zabriska.
His self-respect was intact; if he had been beaten, he would never have forgiven himself. He regained his rooms. A letter lay waiting for him on the table. He opened it and found that it was from Mina Zabriska. "We are back here," she wrote. "I am staying at Blent till my uncle comes down. I must write and say good-by to you. I dare say we shall never meet again, or merely by chance.
There were, after all, limits to the importance of Harry Tristram's case, and Robert was likely, if worried, to state the fact with his own merciless vigor, and with that to say good-by to the whole affair. The only person seriously angry at the Prime Minister's "dawdling," was Mina Zabriska; and she had enjoyed no chance of telling him so.
Yet he decided that she would, as he put it, pay for dressing; she wanted some process analogous to the thorough repair which he loved to see applied to old houses. Then she would be attractive not his sort, of course, but still attractive. "I wonder if you'll meet Madame Zabriska, the lady I let Merrion Lodge to, and the gentleman with her, her uncle." "I expect not.
"Miss S. wasn't so far wrong after all!" exclaimed Mina Zabriska, flinging down a letter on the table by her. It was three days after Addie Tristram's funeral. Mina had attended that ceremony, or rather watched it from a little way off.
"Oh, very well," smiled Lady Evenswood. A long life had taught her that only facts convince, and that they often fail. The Blent was on fire indeed, and Mina Zabriska occupied a position rich in importance, prolific of pleasure. Others, such as Iver and Miss S., might meet Mr Gainsborough as he took timid rambles; they could extort little beyond a dazed civility.
"It's the gettin' out, Madame er Zabriska." He had taken a swift glance at Mina's card. Mina looked round. "Is it in this room they have the Councils?" she asked. "Cabinets? Don't know. Downstairs somewhere, I believe, anyhow." He smothered a yawn. "Queer thing, that about Tristram, you know. If everything was known, you know, I shouldn't wonder if a lot of other fellows found themselves "
"Of course we shall be ready," said Cecily scornfully. Harry had taken his hat from the table and came up to shake hands. He was imperturbably calm and business-like. "Don't run it too fine," he said. "Good-night, Madame Zabriska." She gave him her hand and he held it for a moment. He grew a little grave, but there was still a twinkle in his eye. "You're a good friend," he said.
Mina was not certain that she could safely credit Neeld with such a flight of imagination; still he was listening, and his eyes were very gentle behind his spectacles. "The parson came to see her yesterday. He's not what you'd call an unusual man, Madame Zabriska and she is an unusual woman, you know. It was yes, it was amusing, and there's an end of it."
With every evidence of capability that Harry showed, even with every increase in the chances of his attaining position and wealth for himself, the prospect of success in the other scheme the scheme still secret grew brighter. The thought of that queer little woman Madame Zabriska, Harry's champion, came into his mind. He would have something to tell her, if ever they met again at Lady Evenswood's.
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