'I'm delighted to hear it. I shall understand everything then. Isn't it curious—without even seeing them—that I know all about it? I think I've a touch of second sight.'
'But, Eglantine, aren't you going a little far? Hadn't you better wait until you've seen them, at least. You've no idea how well the Mitchells get on.'
'I've no doubt of it,' she replied, 'and, of course, I don't know that he—Mr Mitchell, I mean—even realises what you are to him. But I do!'
Edith was really impressed at the dash with which Madame Frabelle so broadly handled this vague theme.
'Wait till you do see them,' she said, rather mischievously, declining to deny her friend's suggestion altogether.
'Odd I should have guessed it, isn't it?' Madame Frabelle was evidently pleased. 'You'll admit this, Edith, from what your husband says I gather you see each other continually, don't you?'
'Very often.'
'Bruce and he are together at the Foreign Office. Bruce thinks much of him, and admires him. With it all I notice now and then a tinge of bitterness in the way he speaks. He was describing their fancy-dress ball to me the other day, and really his description of Mr Mitchell's costume would have been almost spiteful in any other man.'
'Well, but Mr Mitchell is over sixty. And he was got up as a black poodle.'
'Yes; quite so. But he's a fine-looking man, isn't he? And very pleasant and hospitable?'