"How on earth did you happen to know that you would find me here?"
asked Hermia.

"We didn't know it," replied the countess. "We took a chance and
came, worried to death. The head coachman's wife who was up with a
sick child heard you get off and watched your flight over the bay in
this direction. She didn't see you fall. But when you didn't return
she became frightened and alarmed the household--woke us all at
half-past five. Think of it!" She yawned and dropped wearily on the
step of the porch. And then, as Markham went indoors in search of
chairs, in a lower tone to Hermia, "With a person you have professed
to detest you seem to be getting on famously, my dear."

"One hardly quarrels with the individual who provides one with
breakfast," she said coolly.

At the call of Salignac, the mechanician, Hermia followed the others
down the slope to the machine, leaving the Countess and Markham alone.

"Well," Olga questioned, "what on earth are you doing here?"

He couldn't fail to note the air of proprietorship.

"What should I be doing?" and he made a gesture toward his idle easel.

"Why didn't you answer my letters?"

"I have never received them. No mail has been forwarded here."

"Oh!" And then: "I didn't know just what to think--unless that you