Nigel who in his capacity as host had found little time for personal conversation during the service of dinner, deliberately led her a little apart when they passed out into the lounge for coffee and to watch the dancing.
"My duties are over for a time," he said.

"Do you realise that I have not had a word with you alone since our luncheon at Ciro's ?" "We have all been a little engrossed, have we not ?" she murmured.

"I hope that you are satisfied with the way things have turned out." "Nothing shall induce me to talk politics or empire-saving to-night," he declared, with a smile.

"I have other things to say." "Tell me why you asked us all to dine so suddenly," she enquired.

"I do not know whether it is my fancy, but there seems to be an air of celebration about.