Elizabeth was the one exception.

She was carrying a tiny Chinese spaniel under one arm; with the fingers of her other hand she held a tortoise-shell mounted monocle to her eye, and stared directly at the two men.

Presently she came languidly across the room to them.
"Dear me," she said, "I had no idea that even your wide circle of acquaintances, Mr.Pritchard, included my friend, Mr.Tavernake." The two men rose to their feet.

Tavernake felt confused and angry.

It was as though he had been playing the traitor in listening, even for a moment, to these stories.
"Mr.Pritchard introduced himself to me only a few minutes ago," he declared.