‘I am,’ he said.
‘How funny!’
‘Odd thing to meet at dinner, isn’t it?’ said their hostess languidly. ‘Now then, Sir Peter, out with your little scheme.’
Sir Peter cleared his throat and rearranged his wine-glasses. He looked at Dwala.
‘I think you were present, Prince, at an evening at Lady Lillico’s, where I was made to deliver a little lecture on the Missing Link?’
Dwala looked steadily into the Biologist’s eyes: he saw nothing there but an enterprise and the desire to please; but he was conscious of a secret triumph of amusement emanating from Lady Wyse.
‘Yes, I was there.’
‘I mentioned, if you remember, a scheme for an expedition?’
‘Yes, to find the Missing Link.’
‘Quite so. Well, our plan is this—I’m empowered to speak for the University—the new writ is issued, and we can proceed to nomination at any moment. Now, of course, we don’t sell our nomination; you quite understand that?’