Mrs. Hale, who had sat tall and erect and alert, like a black she-fox, never making a sound, looked round at me to see what sort of specimen I was. She was just a bit intrigued.
"Yes, thanks," came a musical murmur from Lord Lathkill. "I think I will take some more."
The man, who had hesitated, filled his glass.
"I'm awfully sorry I can't drink wine," said Carlotta, absently. "It has the wrong effect on me."
"I should say it has the wrong effect on everybody," said the Colonel, with an uneasy attempt to be there. "But some people like the effect, and some don't."
I looked at him in wonder. Why was he chipping in? He looked as if he'd liked the effect well enough, in his day.
"Oh, no!" retorted Carlotta coldly. "The effect on different people is quite different."
She closed with finality, and a further frost fell on the table.
"Quite so," began the Colonel, trying, since he'd gone off the deep end, to keep afloat.
But Carlotta turned abruptly to me.