“When?” asked Mr. Carteret.
“It was a Christmas present,” said Evanston—“the Christmas after the failure.”
“After you came back?”
Evanston nodded.
“Do you know where she got it?” asked Mr. Carteret. “I mean the embroidery.”
“She worked it,” said Evanston.
“But,” said Mr. Carteret, “it’s Persian.”
“Very likely she got the design from her uncle,” said Evanston. “She used to be a great deal with him. You know he was Wyeth, the Orientalist. But what is all this about? Why are you interested in this sofa pillow?”
Mr. Carteret gazed searchingly at Evanston. “The design,” he said, “that is embroidered is a verse.”