There came a knock at the door. Chesney sprang to his feet, scowling at the closed door.
"Come in!" said Sophy.
It was William, with a card on a tray.
"The Marquis Amaldi to see you, madam."
"Very well," said Sophy.
Cecil lighted another of his huge cigarettes.
"Who's this——foreigner?" he asked, amiably enough.
Inwardly Sophy contracted at the brutal adjective that she detested. Outwardly she was unmoved.
"A friend of Count Varesca's. I met him at the Illinghams'—no, at the Ponceforths' the other night."
"Mh!—— Well, so long. I'll make myself scarce for a bit. Can't stand foreigners."