"So should I!" nearly all the ladies declared in unison.
Mr. Van Reinberg laughed softly to himself. For the first time, he seemed to be enjoying the situation.
"There's nothing for it but the hat, Mr. de Valentin," he declared.
Mr. de Valentin bowed.
"If every one is agreeable," he said stiffly, drawing a sheet of note paper towards him and beginning to write.
No one seemed quite satisfied; but, on the other hand, no one had any other suggestion to make. Mr. Van Reinberg leaned forward in his chair. He was beginning, apparently, to take a keen interest in the proceedings.
"Of course," he said softly, "the names could be read out, and if any of you took a special fancy to any of the titles, we could have a sort of auction, the proceeds to go to the fund."
Mr. de Valentin turned towards him with a stony look. Only his eyes expressed his anger.
"I presume that you are not in earnest, Mr. Van Reinberg," he said in a low tone. "Such a course is utterly out of the question."
Mr. Van Reinberg scratched his chin thoughtfully. Mr. de Valentin completed his task, and handed the slips of paper over to me.