"Anxious to see you, Linda, of course, and have a talk, some time when you're not professionally engaged. Tonight be agreeable?"
"Sorry, Bel, but I'm booked for tonight."
"Tomorrow, then?"
"But tomorrow night Cindy has a date with us," Fanny objected.
"I'm out of luck. Never mind: I know Linda won't keep me in suspense forever."
"No: you may call on me the next night, Bel."
"That will be Friday. At the Hollywood, of course? Many thanks. And now I mustn't keep you, it's a long ride back and you must be quite tired out with your long day's work, the emotional strain and everything."
Bellamy was punctiliously gallant about helping Lucinda and Fanny into their car, then returned to his own, wagging a cavalier farewell to Summerlad as the latter sped away with Jacques in the orange-and-black juggernaut.
When they had been some time under way Fanny broke in upon Lucinda's meditations with an ecstatic murmur: "Priceless!"
Lucinda came to with a frown. "I'm glad you think so," she said shortly.