Margaret expected that Logotheti's house would somehow correspond with his own outward appearance and would be architecturally over-dressed, inside and out, but in this she was greatly mistaken. It was evidently a new house, in a quarter where many houses were new and where some were not in the most perfect taste, though none were monstrosities. It was not exceptionally big, and was certainly not showy; on the whole, it had the unmistakable air of having been built by a good architect, of the very best materials and in a way to last as long as hewn stone can. Such beauty as it had lay in its proportions and not in any sort of ornament, for it was in fact rather plainer than most of its neighbours in the Boulevard Péreire.
The big door opened noiselessly just as the car came up, but Logotheti, who drove himself, did not turn in.
'It's rather a tight fit,' he explained, as he stopped by the curbstone.
He gave his hand to Margaret to get down. As her foot touched the pavement a man who was walking very fast, with his head down, made a step to one side, to get out of the way, and then, recognising her and the Greek, lifted his hat hastily and would have passed on. She started with an exclamation of surprise, for it was Lushington, whom she had supposed to be in London. Logotheti spoke first, calling to him in English.
Lushington stopped instantly and turned half round, with an exclamation intended to express an imaginary surprise, for he had recognised all three at first sight.
'Oh!' he exclaimed coldly. 'Is that you? How are you?'
Margaret offered her hand as he did not put out his. She was a little surprised to see that he did not change colour when he took it, as he always used to do when they met; he did not seem in the least shy, now, and there was a hard look in his eyes.
'All right?' he said, with a cool interrogation, and he turned to Logotheti before Margaret could give any answer.
'Come in and lunch, my dear fellow,' said the Greek affably.
'I never lunch--thanks all the same.' He moved to go on, nodding a good-bye.
'Are you here for long?' asked Margaret, forcing him to stop again.
'That depends on what you call long. I leave this evening.'
'I should call that a very short time!' Margaret tried to laugh a little, with a lingering hope that he might unbend.