She looked involuntarily at Milbanke.
But Milbanke's eyes were on the groups of hotel guests, already moving towards the dining-room.
"Don't you think we might—might make a move——?" he hazarded vaguely.
There was a very slight pause; then Serracauld responded to the suggestion.
"You are quite right!" he said easily. "I expect my uncle is looking for me; he usually gets fidgety about feeding time. Will you excuse me, Mrs. Milbanke? Perhaps later on I shall have the chance of correcting that inexperience you accuse me of."
He laughed pleasantly; and with a courteous gesture, disappeared into the crowd that was fast filing out of the hall.
As he disappeared, Clodagh turned towards the dining-room, leaving Milbanke and Barnard to follow; but she had scarcely crossed the hall, when the latter overtook her.
"Well, Mrs. Milbanke," he said genially, "what do you think of our young friend? I believe he usually finds favour in ladies' eyes."
She glanced up.
"I think him very charming," she said candidly. "Who is he? Do you know him well?"