Lady Coote told him at great length various details about the decease of various dear friends of hers. Jimmy listened with a show of sympathy and at last managed to detach himself without actual rudeness.

He ran lightly up the stairs. Ronny was just emerging from Gerald Wade’s room. He seemed taken aback at the sight of Jimmy.

“I’ve been in to see him,” he said. “Are you going in?”

“I don’t think so,” said Jimmy, who was a healthy young man with a natural dislike to being reminded of death.

“I think all his friends ought to.”

“Oh! do you?” said Jimmy, and registered to himself an impression that Ronny Devereux was damned odd about it all.

“Yes. It’s a sign of respect.”

Jimmy sighed, but gave in.