“How do you do? How d' you do?” His Grace shook hands with the amiable ease which scarcely commits a man even to casual interest, after which he took his seat again.
“How d' do, Miss Hutchinson?” said Palliser. “How d' do, Mr. Hutchinson? Mr. Palford will be glad to find you here.”
Mr. Palford shook hands with correct civility.
“I am, indeed,” he said. “It was in your room in New York that I first saw Mr. Temple Temple Barholm.”
“Aye, it was,” responded Hutchinson, dryly.
“I thought Lady Joan was coming,” Miss Alicia said to Palliser.
“She will be here presently. She came down in our train, but not with us.”
“What—what is she coming for?” faltered Miss Alicia.
“Yes,” put in the duke, “what, by the way, is she coming for?”
“I wrote and asked her to come,” was Palliser's reply. “I have reason to believe she may be able to recall something of value to the inquiry which is being made.”