“Kinda got all the strings in her hand,” said Mame, trying to be lucid.
“Most of them, I think. Anyway she has a tremendously good time.”
The folks began to get a bit thinner, to diminish by twos and threes. Mame, having had a most entertaining afternoon, decided not to outstay her welcome. She rose and crossed to Lady Violet, who was talking very quick French to a foreign-looking bozo, with an imperial and a braided jacket, who stood peering over his teacup into her eyes.
“Can I come and see you again?” Mame offered a white glove, in which she took considerable pride, at the precise angle she had discovered to be fashionable.
“Oh, please, please!” Lady Violet spoke as if she really meant it. “And quite soon, you know.”
The cheery warmth of the words left Mame with a feeling that she was taking leave of a real friend.
XXII
WHEN Mame had stepped into the lift outside the door of 16b, by pure coincidence she found it occupied already by the tall, immaculate top-hatted form of Bill. It was a piece of luck. She had taken quite a fancy to this young man and was ready to seize a chance of improving the acquaintance.
“I hope you enjoyed yourself,” he said, with hearty and cheerful politeness.
Miss Du Rance left him no sort of doubt upon that point. “Lady Violet’s your sister, ain’t she?”