For a time they smoked in silence, each engaged with his own thoughts. Then:
“Who would you say was the older, Alec,” Roger asked suddenly, “Lady Stanworth or Mrs. Shannon?”
“Mrs. Shannon,” Alec replied without hesitation. “Why?”
“I was just wondering. But Lady Stanworth looks older; her hair is getting quite gray. Mrs. Shannon’s is still brown.”
“Yes, I know Mrs. Shannon looks the younger of the two; but I’m sure she’s not, for all that.”
“Well, what age would you put Jefferson at?”
“Lord, I don’t know. He might be any age. About the same as Lady Stanworth, I should imagine. What on earth are you asking all this for?”
“Oh, just something that was passing through my mind. Nothing very important.”
They relapsed into silence once more.
Suddenly Roger slapped his knee. “By Jove!” he ejaculated. “I wonder if we dare!”