Francis waved his hand toward his informant: "Mr. Kimberly."
The answer surprised Alice. She looked at Kimberly.
There was an instant of embarrassment. "Francis feels our pagan atmosphere so keenly," Kimberly said slowly, "that I gave him the news about you as a bracer--just to let him know we had a friend at court even if we were shut out ourselves."
"He told me," continued Francis, with humor, "that a Catholic lady was coming this afternoon, and to put on my new habit."
"Which, of course, you did not do," interposed Kimberly, regaining the situation.
Brother Francis looked deprecatingly at his shiny serge.
Dolly and Alice laughed. "Mr. Kimberly didn't understand that you kept on your old one out of humility," said Alice. "But how did you know anything about my religion?" she asked, turning to Kimberly.
Francis took this chance to slip away to his charge.
"Arthur De Castro is the culprit," answered Kimberly. "He told me some time ago."
"You have a good memory."