Her manner was but too assured—and she was apparently quite sane.
“You have heard of the Dales, your cousins?” she resumed.
He nodded.
“Well, they are my cousins too. I came out to stay with friends—not far from here—and they have measles, and could not take me in. So I cast about what to do, and thought of you, Teddy Lovett. Everyone knows how good-natured you are, and such a ladies’ man—and so here I am, taking you by storm! By the way, can I have a whisky and soda?”
“Certainly. Boy, peg loa!”
The bearer promptly entered, and the refreshment was presented to the lady, who swallowed half a tumblerful at a gulp.
“Of course,” she resumed with a smirk, “if I were at home I could not billet myself on you like this. But in India, I believe, there are no silly conventions; the Dales said you were an awfully good sort, and——”
“And of course,” broke in Lovett, “I am glad to have it in my power to oblige any friend of theirs——”
“Cousin,” corrected the lady.
“But India is not at all so unconventional as you suppose, Miss—er——”