‘But who was he, Gerald?’ ‘A damned condottiere,’ exploded Gerald, forgetting his company. "I understand," replied Rowland. ‘Would you like me to enquire for your mystery lady, Gerald? I know the Comte and Comtesse de St Erme quite well. "But if you do not find this aunt, what will you do? What can you do to protect yourself against hunger?" "I'll find something. He turned in at the club. How did you like Tristan?” Ann Veronica paused the fraction of a second before her reply came.