It is possible, however, that his rapture at seeing Tredennis may have been tempered by the natural weakness of man, but he bore himself with his usual unperturbed equanimity.
"There," he remarked to Mrs. Sylvestre, "is the most objectionable creature in Washington."
"Objectionable!" Mrs. Sylvestre repeated. "Bertha is bringing him here."
"Yes," responded Arbuthnot, "that is the objection to him, and it leaves him without a redeeming quality."
Mrs. Sylvestre gave him a charmingly interested glance, and the next instant made a slight movement forward.
"Ah!" she exclaimed, "it is Colonel Tredennis!" and she held out her hand with the most graceful gesture of welcome imaginable.
"It is very good of you to remember me," Tredennis said.
"It was not difficult," she answered, with a smile. And they fell, in the most natural manner, a step apart from the others, and she stood and looked at him as he spoke just as she had looked at Arbuthnot a moment before. Arbuthnot began to give mild attention to his coffee.
"It is quite cold," he said to Bertha. "Will you give me another cup?"