Philip did not seem as enthusiastic as Colin about this, but he was adequately cordial, and, having smoked his cigarette in silence, got up to go.
“Are you coming?” he said to his sons.
Colin nodded to Raymond to answer this.
“We were just going to have a talk first, father,” he said.
“Very good. Don’t sit up too late. Colin hasn’t been to bed till three for the last fortnight.”
Colin waited till the door was shut.
“Now for our talk,” he said. “Isn’t Violet looking divine? Aren’t I a lucky fellow? Even the thought of being mistress of Stanier wasn’t enough to make her tolerate you. We had a lovely honeymoon, Raymond. We often talked of you. Lord! How she loathes you! I should think even you could see that. Now an interesting question. I ask for information. Do you think she knows about that morning we were speaking of at dinner?”
“I have no means of telling,” said Raymond.
“Well, we’ll assume she doesn’t. Now I want you to observe her closely again to-morrow, and see if you think she knows then. I’ve remembered all about it, and, as you heard me say, I was thinking of telling her, just drowsily and quietly to-night. And then to-morrow you’ll guess whether I have done so or not. Take coffee for breakfast if you think I have, tea, if you think I haven’t. What a jolly Christmas game!”
Colin poured himself out a glass of whisky and soda.