Bethlehem Road

that they were the most brazen creatures, bereft of the sensitivities of feeling, the refinements that are natural to a woman. But I must admit that until now it had not entered my mind that they might take such complete leave of all sanity. Of course I did advise Mr. Etheridge against having any sympathy with them, right from the beginning. It is not natural for women to desire to dominate public aifairs. We do not have the brusqueness of nature; it is not our place.'

Pitt was surprised.' 'You mean that at some time there was a question of his being in favor of the franchise for women?''

Her face was full of distaste. 'I am not sure that he would have gone as far as that! He did consider there was some argument that women of maturity and a certain degree of property-not just any woman-should be able to vote for local councils and, in certain cases, should have the right to custody of their children when separated from their husbands.'

' 'Women of property? What about other women, poorer women?'

'Are you trying to be amusing, Mr.-what was your name?'

'Pitt, ma'am. No, I just wondered what Mr. Etheridge's ideas were.'

'They were misplaced, Mr. Pitt. Women have no education, no understanding of political or governmental affairs, no knowledge of the law and seldom any of finance, other than of a merely domestic nature. Can you imagine the sort of people they would elect to Parliament if they had the vote? We might find ourselves governed by a romantic novelist, or an actor! Who else in the world would take us seriously? If we became weak and foolish at home it would be the beginning of the end of the Empire, and then the whole Christian world would suffer! Can anyone wish that? Of course not!'

Ill

''And would women having the vote do that, Lady Mary?'

'There is a certain order in society, Mr. Pitt. We break it at our peril.'

'But Mr. Etheridge did not agree?'

Her face tightened at the memory, but there was only irritation and impatience at the foolishness that had required her guiding hand.

'Not at first, but he came to see that he had allowed to get out of hand his natural sympathies for a certain woman who had behaved quite irresponsibly and brought upon herself a domestic misfortune. She appealed to him, in his parliamentary capacity, and for a short while his judgment was affected by her extreme and rather hysterical views. However, he did realize, of course, that the whole suggestion was absurd, and after all, it was not as if it were the desire of a large number of people! No one but a few hotheaded women of a most undesirable type has ever entertained such an idea.''

'Was that Mr. Etheridge's conclusion?'

' 'Naturally!'' The slightest smile flickered over her lips.' 'He was not a foolish man, only susceptible to a sentimental pity for people who do not warrant it. And Florence Ivory certainly did not. Her influence was short-lived; he very soon perceived that she was a most undesirable person, in all ways.'

'Florence Ivory?'

'A very strident and unwomanly creature. If you are looking for a political assassin, Mr. Pitt, I should look to her, and her associates. I believe she lives in the same area across the river, somewhere near the Westminster Bridge. At least, that is what Mr. Etheridge told me.'

'I see. Thank you, Lady Mary.'

'My duty,' she said with a lift of her chin. 'Unpleasant, but necessary. Good afternoon, Mr. Pitt!'

112

6

j.t took pitt all the morning of the next day to catch up on the news which had reached Bow Street regarding the case, namely that Helen Carfax's painting had been very fine and fetched five hundred pounds-enough to employ a maid every day of her life from childhood to old age and still have some to spare. What had she done with so much money? Surely it had gone to James, in some form or other: a present? an allowance? in payment of his debts at Boodle's?