He withdrew his mind from present discomforts and went over that last, strange, hurried scene. Fragments of conversation spun through his head.
"Mademoiselle, I have scoured two continents in search of you."
"Voyons, then, it is urgent. But be quick for the big bear may come in and be grumpy, and I do not like des histoires."
There had been a lamp on a low table; he remembered the gleam through the haze of short gold hair. She was a tall girl, but slender, looking up at him from the huge black-and-gold cushions.
"Mademoiselle, it is incredible to me that you should ever—dine or dance—with a person called Van Humperdinck."
Now what had possessed him to say that—when there was so little time, and Jerry's affairs were of such importance?
"Monsieur van Humperdinck does not dance. Did you seek me through two continents to say that?"
"No, I am serious."
"Eh bien, sit down."
She had been quite frank about it.