He was well aware that, although the Earl kept his temper under control, he had one and he had no wish to have it expended upon him personally.

They drove along Piccadilly towards the King’s Theatre, which was situated in the Haymarket.

“If your French woman is as attractive as you describe,” the Earl said, “she does not live in a very salubrious neighbourhood.”

They were passing, as he spoke, through the dusty streets around the theatre, which, in the winter, were a quagmire of mud.

“She has wisely not been in a hurry to make her choice of a protector,” Richard replied quickly, “well aware that she will have a large number of applications for the position.”

“Which you are thinking might include me!” the Earl questioned.

“It has flashed through my mind,” Richard admitted. “Why, has she refused you?”

Richard shook his head.

“Do you really think I qualify? If I cannot afford to buy a decent horse, I certainly cannot afford to keep an attractive woman.”

“Then why are you so interested in her?”

“As it happens, she had an introduction to me from Raymond Chatteris. You remember Raymond?”

“Yes, of course I do.”

“When he was in trouble over a married woman, it was a question either of pistols at dawn or skipping the country, so he went to Paris in April.”

“And met your friend Genevieve.”

“Exactly!”

“He has obviously been very generous in paying back an old debt.”

The Earl’s voice was somewhat mocking.

“I think, as it happens,” Richard replied quite seriously, “he really wanted to do her a good turn and he trusted me to guide her for the first month she is in England. I don’t think I shall be wanted after that.”

“You are beginning to intrigue me,” the Earl said, “and by the way, Richard, what is her full name?”

“Just ‘Genevieve’.”

The Earl looked puzzled and Richard explained,

“It is what she called herself in France where, I understand, she had a small part in the Théâtre de Variétés. When she arrived in London and found how the Vestris calls herself ‘Madame’ and names all the cast on the programme as Monsieur this and Mademoiselle that, she decided to do the exact opposite and be just ‘Genevieve’. It’s original, you must admit.”

“I wonder who told her that would be a good thing to do?” the Earl asked mockingly.

They drove on and Richard directed the Earl to a small hotel situated at the back of the King’s Theatre.

“She usually receives when she is having her hair done,” Richard explained, as the horses were drawn to a standstill. “I hope we are not too late. You will find her very attractive en déshabille.”

There was a cynical twist to the Earl’s lips, but he made no reply.