Page:The Golden Bowl (Scribner, New York, 1909), Volume 1.djvu/334

THE GOLDEN BOWL begged me to observe. But you wouldn't believe—I did put in Saint Paul's. Such days," she wound up, "are expensive; for, besides the cab, I've bought quantities of books." She immediately passed at any rate to another point. "I can't help wondering when you must last have laid eyes on them." And then as it had apparently for her companion an effect of abruptness: "Maggie, I mean, and the child. For I suppose you know he's with her."

"Oh yes, I know he's with her. I saw them this morning."

"And did they then announce their programme?"

"She told me she was taking him, as usual, da nonno."

"And for the whole day?"

He hesitated, but it was as if his attitude had slowly shifted. "She didn't say. And I didn't ask."

"Well," she went on, "it can't have been later than half-past ten—I mean when you saw them. They had got to Eaton Square before eleven. You know we don't formally breakfast, Adam and I; we have tea in our rooms—at least I have; but luncheon's early, and I saw my husband this morning by twelve; he was showing the child a picture-book. Maggie had been there with them, had left them settled together. Then she had gone out—taking the carriage for something he had been intending, but that she offered to do instead."

The Prince appeared to confess, at this, to his interest. "Taking, you mean, your carriage?"

"I don't know which, and it doesn't matter. It's not a question," she smiled, "of a carriage the more or 304