"I do not pretend to say how you should have expressed yourself, but I wish to point out that your place at dinner was no excuse for your place afterwards."
"Oh, in the conservatory. Well, you see, the fact is, I was telling Lady Isabelle——"
"Yes, Mr. Stanley. What were you telling my daughter?"
He glanced at the clock. Seven minutes had elapsed since the Dowager entered the hall. He hoped they would shorten the service.
"I was asking her a question," he continued.
"Well?"
The Dowager was far below zero.
"I asked her if she cared for me."
"And she naturally referred you to her mother."
"She told me a few minutes ago that you were coming here," he replied, noticing that his companion's mercury was rapidly rising.