“Four,” said Sarah, “since half-past ten.”
“Five and a half,” said her fiancé. “Mrs. Sheraton Forbes had a child with her under fourteen. This ostracism amuses me to death. Never mind. How’s Fulke?”
“Desperate,” said Miss Vulliamy. “I knew he would be. He bucked up a lot when I said he should be our first guest.”
“Did he, indeed?” said Virgil. “Truly a forgiving nature.”
“Yes, he is very sweet,” agreed Sarah. “Couldn’t he be your best man?”
Pardoner fingered his chin.
“I’m afraid he’s too young,” he said slowly. “I must have a compeer.”
“Very well, then,” said Sarah. “He can give me away.”
“That,” said Virgil, “will be a most becoming rôle.”
Miss Vulliamy frowned. Then—