Miss Damer ticked off the names of the party on her small gloved fingers. (Have I mentioned that she was petite?)
"Mr. Mainwaring and Lady Adela," she said. "You know them, of course?"
"No. I saw them once on Speech Day at school fifteen years ago. That is all."
"Well, they are your host and hostess."
"Thank you: I had gathered that," I replied deferentially.
"Then Dicky."
"Dicky? Who is-- Oh, The Frea-- Yes. Quite so! Proceed!"
"What did you call him?" asked Miss Damer, frankly curious.
"I--well--at school we used to call him The Freak," I explained. "Men very often never know the Christian names of their closest friends," I added feebly. "Who else?"
"There is Hilda Beverley, of course. You have heard of her?"