“Seen you before. How are you? I expect we’re here on the same errand.”
He found himself gazing into the humorous blue eyes which had discovered him playing tricks with his engine before the house in Regent’s Park.
“You’re Mr. Horace Overbridge, I think.”
“Yes. I’m here to see October put on; that’s my new play in which Miss Audrey is acting. What are you doing?” Then, because Teddy hesitated, “Perhaps I oughtn’t to ask.”
At that moment the arrival-platform of the Bay State Limited was announced; they drifted away at the tail of the crowd towards the barrier. Teddy wanted to hurry; his companion saw it. “Heaps of time,” he laughed. “If I know anything about them, they’ll be out last.”
His prophecy proved correct. The excited welcomes were over; the stream of travelers had thinned down to a narrow trickle of the feeble or heavily laden, when Desire, walking arm-in-arm with a woman much more beautiful than her portraits, drew into sight behind the gates. After hats had been raised and they knew that they had been recognized, they did not quicken their pace. They approached still leisurely and talking, as much as to say: “Let’s make the most of our opportunity before we sink to the level of these male-creatures.”
Horace Overbridge, leaning on his cane, watched them with tolerant amusement. “Take their time, don’t they?” he remarked. “One wouldn’t think we’d both come three thousand miles to meet them. What fools men are!”
“Hulloa,” said Desire, holding out her hand gladly, “it’s good to see you. So you two men have introduced yourselves! Fluffy, this is Mr. Gurney.”
It was arranged that the maid should be seen into a taxi to take care of the luggage. When she had been disposed of, they crossed the street for tea at the Belmont. Fluffy and Desire still walked arm-in-arm as though it was they who had been so long separated. At the table Teddy found himself left to talk to Fluffy; Desire and the man with the amused blue eyes were engaged in bantering reminiscences of the summer. The game seemed to be to pretend that you were not in love; or, if you were, that it was with some one for whom actually you didn’t care a rap.
“Did it go well?” asked Teddy.