"He seems to interest you," he ventured, with a view to exploration.
"Strength and endurance are qualities always to be admired in a man," said Aunt Caroline, as glibly as if it came out of a book. "I had never dreamed that art developed them. Bishop, were you aware of it?"
The bishop was staring pointedly at Bill.
"I—er—no. That is—well, it is probable that I have never given sufficient attention to certain of the arts."
He continued to stare at Bill, until that gentleman began to feel that the bishop was not so unsophisticated as he seemed.
"If you'll excuse me, Aunt Caroline, I'll hunt up the signor. I wouldn't have him feel that I am neglecting him."
But the signor was no longer standing in the doorway, talking to Pete Stearns. Nor was he out in the hall, where Bill immediately searched. A hasty exploration of the dining-room did not discover him.
"Now, where in blazes did he go?" muttered Bill, in an anxious tone.
He started on a run toward the front of the house and barely managed to avert a collision with his social secretary.
"Say, have you seen——"