“Yes, it is. Very much of a native ornament.”
The tone was dry, and—she thought—rather curious. She went on—
“I have more than one grievance against you, Mr Lamont. First of all, why didn’t you come in and see us last night? We had quite a number of men dropping in.”
“All the more reason why I shouldn’t, isn’t it? Too much of a crowd, you know.”
“No, I don’t. We can never have too much of a crowd of our friends.”
He laughed—again, she thought, strangely.
“That’s novel doctrine to me, anyway,” he said. “I was always under the impression one could—and very much so. But I don’t think your brother-in-law likes me. Isn’t that good enough excuse?”
“No, it isn’t. Dick doesn’t constitute the whole establishment. But, here is another thing. I own I’ve been dying of curiosity over it ever since. Why was it of so much importance that you should spend the rest of the day with that snuffy old savage? You were sticking to him closer than a brother. In fact you were at each other’s elbow all the time. More than one noticed it.”
“Oh, did they?” and here she noticed a touch of concern in his tone. Then, as if he had come to some sudden resolution, “I believe you have good nerves, Miss Vidal?”
“Yes,” wonderingly.