The formidable attendant followed her mistress some ten paces behind, carrying a small paper bag from which she dispensed largesse in the way of breadcrumbs to various greedy ducks. Walking round the duck pond from the opposite direction, Gore approached his victim, being careful not to look at her, but paying smiling attention to the ducks, fully aware that he looked handsome, very young, and, to rich, middle-aged ladies, extremely appealing. His timing was perfect. Eight feet separated him from the woman, when he stumbled, placed a white shapely hand to that part of his anatomy where his heart might well reside, then sank slowly but gracefully to his knees. The woman was only three feet away when he raised his head, gazed at her with eyes in which tears were just beginning to form, and said weakly: "Madam, if you could assist me." It was a wonderful performance, the best he had ever given. The white haggard face was expressionless; the large, still beautiful black eyes stared down at him, then as though a tiresome puddle were in her path she stepped round him, and continued her walk.
