"I have told that doctor. No one else. I wonder whether it will go on when I am far away."
"I wonder, too. Where are you going?"
"I do not know yet. Perhaps to China again. I shall get my orders in a few days."
They reached the threshold of the door. Lamberti had been looking for Guido's face amongst the people he could see as he came up, but Guido was gone.
"Good-bye," said Cecilia, softly.
"Good night," Lamberti answered, almost in a whisper. "God bless you."
He afterwards thought it strange that he should have said that, but at the time it seemed quite natural, and Cecilia was not at all surprised. She smiled and bent her graceful head. Then she joined her mother, and Lamberti disappeared.
"My dear," said the Countess, "you remember Monsieur Leroy? You met him at Princess Anatolie's," she added, in a stage whisper.
Monsieur Leroy bowed, and Cecilia nodded. She had forgotten his existence, and now remembered that she had not liked him, and that she had said something sharp to him. He spoke first.
"The Princess wished me to tell you how very sorry she is that she cannot be here this afternoon. She has one of her attacks."