“The lady in the blue dress!” said Miss Mason, her face radiant with pleasure.
“So you two know each other,” said Paul.
“We met—when was it—last May?” said Sara. “May I introduce Mr. Charlton.” And the man whom Miss Mason had seen in the lounge of the Wilton Hotel bowed.
“It is,” said the Duchessa when she was seated, and after Barnabas had been introduced, “quite the most unexpected and delightful meeting. It was not till I was on my way to Italy that I remembered I had never asked your name.” And then she told the others of their first meeting.
“And has it all,” she asked, “been just as delightful as I prophesied?”
“More delightful,” said Miss Mason promptly. She was looking at Christopher. She remembered the “Christopher, darling,” and her mind, woman-like, was keen on the secret of a romance.
Sara saw her glance. By a flash of intuition she guessed something of what was passing in Miss Mason’s mind. It gave her an opportunity she had been looking for during the last hour and a half.
“Christopher came to fetch me that evening to take me to an At Home, I remember. He is an extraordinarily useful person. I have known him since I was ten years old.”
The words were addressed to Miss Mason. They were intended for another occupant of the studio.
“I remember,” said Christopher, “our first meeting. It was, I think, unique.”