A party of outgoing guests claimed the man's attention. Holderness turned away.
"This thing is getting on my nerves," he declared. "Does it seem likely that Sandy should chuck his luncheon without a word of explanation, come out and get his coat and hat and walk off? And, besides, where was he all the time we were looking for him?"
It was unanswerable, inexplicable. They all looked at one another almost helplessly. Pamela held out her hand.
"Well," she announced, "I am sorry, but I'm afraid that I must go. I have a great many things to attend to this afternoon."
"You are going away soon?" Lutchester inquired.
She hesitated, and at that moment Mr. Fischer, who had been saying farewell to his guests, turned towards her.
"You are not thinking of the trip home yet, Miss Van Teyl?" he asked.
"Oh, I don't know," she answered a little evasively. "I'm out of humour with London just now."
"Perhaps we shall be fellow-passengers on Thursday?" he ventured. "I am going over on the New York."
"I never make plans," she told him.