That evening at half past seven a very jolly party gathered around the dinner table, which was a miracle of beauty with its decorations of apple blossoms. Besides Nicholas Grimm and Yoritomo Ito, there were two Englishmen, Reginald Carlton, a young man who was taking a trip around the world by way of finishing his education, and Mr. Buxton, an older man who lived in Tokyo. All the men wore evening clothes, although Mr. Campbell had sighed when Billie made him appear in his. He was a man of camps and open air and seldom appeared in society. Nancy watched his rugged, handsome face admiringly.
"What a splendid looking man he is," she was thinking, when Yoritomo at her right said in a low voice:
"You did go to the bridge."
"How do you know?" she asked.
"Because I saw the rose. It was fastened on your rain coat, which you left on a hook in the passage with your wet umbrella."
"I only went for the air," said Nancy hastily. "I shall not go again alone."
Yoritomo's face darkened, and he turned his attention to his dinner.
In the meantime the others were all amusing themselves in various ways, and there was a great deal of talk and laughter. Miss Campbell felt rejuvenated and her rheumatic twinges had entirely disappeared.
"There is nothing like a little pleasure for driving acidity out of the system," she thought, as she finished the last spoonful of her dessert of beautifully preserved fruits.
Onoye had entered, carrying a small lacquered tray on which lay a square, foreign-looking visiting card.