"For a fresh start?" he inflected tentatively.
But Pendleton had resumed his smoke rings—and for a time there was silence.
Presently Devereux spoke:
"I didn't see you at the Croyden's last night."
"I wasn't there," replied Pendleton. "I came in from New York this morning. Was it interesting?"
"The Croyden functions are always interesting—some more so than others, but any of them will do for mine, thank you!—Lucky chap, Croyden!"
Pendleton nodded. "Not many girls would have done what Elaine Cavendish did: throw convention overboard and—because Croyden was poor and wouldn't, and she was rich and loved him—bridge the chasm and made it easy for him to cross to her."
"Elaine's a girl in a million!" Devereux declared. "I wish there were some more of that sort."
"Would you pick one?" Pendleton asked.
"Would I pick one? Well, rather, my friend."