“Percival Stanhope.”
“Mr. John Percival Stanhope, in fact? Odd that I should not have heard of him, if he is such a great friend of the family?”
“Dolly doesn’t say much about him. He’s in India, and India is such a long way off.”
“Jolly good job, too, or you would be frizzling to-day.” Mr. Schwartz was brightening up again.
“I think you are mistaken,” said Minkie, quietly. “Jack says it is ever so cold in the Punjab at Christmas-time.”
“Does he write to you, then?” demanded Schwartz.
“No; that was in a letter to Dolly.”
“A recent letter?”
“He was talking about Christmas two years ago. But please don’t mention him to her. We have no right to discuss her affairs, have we?”
“No, no; of course not. It was just by way of conversation, eh?”