Tristan down sat as well, only to be startled by Mr. Zimmermann's colourful language in the presence of two young ladies. New money or just American? he wondered quietly. Pippa blushed but answered before he had recovered. American, then.

Pippa's consequent silence drew him back to the grave matter at hand. "Five and a half months," he said quietly. "He and his partner were gone before I even found out about it, but from the sound of it, neither of them would have done much good sticking around." He was reluctant to bring up Mr. Blacke. He still hoped for a more suitable solution now that Pippa had been found. "What's done is done. Miss Danes is not to be blamed. She was in a delicate state of mind and was preyed upon. I should have done more to protect her from such encounters." His lungs felt rather full. "I'm sorry," he told the gentleman who seemed to have a fatherly interest in the former maid.