“He's awfully pleased that you've come. He's as sweet as he can be about you.”
“Yes,” murmured Noel, “that's what's dreadful. I'm glad he wasn't in when I came. Has he told anyone?”
Gratian shook her head. “I don't think anybody knows; unless—perhaps Captain Fort. He came in again the other night; and somehow—”
Noel flushed. “Leila!” she said enigmatically. “Have you seen her?”
“I went to her flat last week with Dad—he likes her.”
“Delilah is her real name, you know. All men like her. And Captain Fort is her lover.”
Gratian gasped. Noel would say things sometimes which made her feel the younger of the two.
“Of course he is,” went on Noel in a hard voice. “She has no men friends; her sort never have, only lovers. Why do you think he knows about me?”
“When he asked after you he looked—”
“Yes; I've seen him look like that when he's sorry for anything. I don't care. Has Monsieur Lavendie been in lately?”