"I must get you to help," said Sir Reginald, drawing her gently forward.
"I can manage, sir," said Noel shortly.
But the Colonel broke in, "Nonsense, Wyndham! One scrutineer isn't enough."
And Noel pushed across a handful of papers to Olga without lifting his eyes.
With fingers that trembled slightly, she began to sort, assisted by Sir Reginald. Several of the papers bore her own name, a fact which at first she scarcely noticed, but which very soon became too conspicuous to be ignored.
"I believe it's yours," murmured Sir Reginald at her elbow.
"Oh, impossible!" she said, flushing.
But in a very few minutes the suspicion was verified. Noel looked up from his sorting with a brief, "You've won!"
Olga raised her eyes swiftly, but he instantly averted his, and turned to communicate the result to the Colonel.
The latter shook hands with her, and shouted the news in his loudest parade voice to the assembled company. There ensued applause and congratulations that Olga would gladly have foregone. Then, as her friends began to press round, Sir Reginald stepped forward.