"Redcliffe is the one place where mother is dumb," she declared. "Up there they look upon her as a stupid but well-meaning person. She is absolutely afraid to open her mouth."
"They are so absurdly literal," Lady Caroom sighed, helping herself to an infinitesimal portion of a wonderful savoury. "Don't talk about the place. I know I shall have an attack of nerves there."
"Mother always gets nerves if she mayn't talk," Sybil murmured.
"You're an undutiful daughter," Lady Caroom declared. "If I do talk I never say anything, so nobody need listen unless they like. About this entertainment, Arranmore. Are you going to make the wineglass disappear and the apples fly about the room a la Maskelyne and Cook? I hope our share in it consists in sitting down."
Arranmore turned to the butler behind his chair.
"Have coffee and liqueur served here, Groves, and bring some cigarettes.
Then you can send the servants away and leave us alone."
The man bowed.
"Very good, your lordship."
Lord Arranmore looked around at his guests.
"The entertainment," he said, "will incur no greater hardship upon you than a little patience. I am going to tell you a story."