It had made him angry.

This anger was complicated by incredulity.

And suddenly it dawned upon him that all this was an elaborate joke.

Mr Vladimir exhibited his white teeth in a smile, with dimples on his round, full face posed with a complacent inclination above the bristling bow of his neck-tie.

The favourite of intelligent society women had assumed his drawing-room attitude accompanying the delivery of delicate witticisms.
Sitting well forward, his white hand upraised, he seemed to hold delicately between his thumb and forefinger the subtlety of his suggestion.
"There could be nothing better.