Neither was satisfactory.

On this account he overcame his slight feeling against Mr.Dare, and put a question to test that gentleman's capacities.

'How would you measure the front of a building, including windows, doors, mouldings, and every other feature, for a ground plan, so as to combine the greatest accuracy with the greatest despatch ?' 'In running dimensions,' said Dare.
As this was the particular kind of work he wanted done, Somerset thought the answer promising.

Coming to terms with Dare, he requested the would-be student of architecture to wait at the castle the next day, and dismissed him.
A quarter of an hour later, when Dare was taking a walk in the country, he drew from his pocket eight other letters addressed to Somerset in initials, which, to judge by their style and stationery, were from men far superior to those two whose communications alone Somerset had seen.
Dare looked them over for a few seconds as he strolled on, then tore them into minute fragments, and, burying them under the leaves in the ditch, went on his way again.
XIII.
Though exhibiting indifference, Somerset had felt a pang of disappointment when he heard the news of Paula's approaching dinner-party.

It seemed a little unkind of her to pass him over, seeing how much they were thrown together just now.