But inside his gravity he was smiling.

These people had no guess that in a way he was connected with the great Mrs.De Peyster of whom they talked--that "Miss Gardner" who was the companion to the ailing social leader in France was something more than just Miss Gardner.

And he felt no reason for revealing his little secret....

Clara, the dear little Puritan, would be scandalized by this his wildest escapade--by his having used, after all and despite her prohibition, Mrs.De Peyster's closed house as a retreat; but when she came back from Europe, and he made her see in its proper light this gorgeous and profitable lark, she would relent and forgive him.
Why, of course, she would forgive him.
He was very optimistic, was Mr.Pyecroft; and the founder of his family must have been a certain pagan gentleman by the name of Pan..