Moonchild

Irish-Italian girl. [30] Simon Iff gave her a significant glance, and she was wise enough to take it. There are subjects which it is better to drop. "You know, Mr. Iff," said Lisa, to lighten the sudden tension, "I've been most fearfully interested in all you have said, and I think I have understood quite a part of it; but I don't see the practical application. Do you want me to get messages from the Mighty Dead?" "Just at present," said the mystic, "I want you to digest what you have heard, and the dejeuner which Brother Cyril is about to offer us. After that we shall feel better able to cope with the problems of the Fourth Dimension." "Dear me! And poor little Lisa has to do all that before she learns the reason of your leaving St. Jean de Luz?" "All that, and the whole story of the Homunculus!" "Whatever is that?" "After lunch." But as it turned out, it was a very long while before lunch. The bell of the studio rang brusquely. Cyril Grey went to the door; and once again Lisa had the impression of a duellist. No: it was a sentinel that stood there. Her vivid power of visualization put a spear in his hand. It was his own studio, but he announced his visitors as if he had been a butler. "Akbar Pasha and Countess Helena Mottich." Simon Iff sprang to the door. It was not his studio, but he welcomed the visitors with both hands outstretched. "Since you have crossed our threshold," he cried, "I am sure you will stay to dejeuner." The visitors murmured a polite acceptance. Cyril Grey was frowning formidably. It was evident that he knew and detested his guests; that he feared their [31] coming; that he suspected — who could say what? He acquiesced instantly in his master's words; yet if silence ever spoke, this was the moment when it beggared curses. He had not given his hand to his guests. Simon Iff did so: but he did it in such a way that each of them was obliged to take a hand at the same moment as the other. Lisa had risen from the divan. She could see that some intricacy was on foot, but could form no notion of its nature. When the newcomers were seated, Lisa found that she was expected to regale them with the news of Paris. It was rather a relief to her to get away