She laughed as she spoke, and Abbershaw thanked her. ‘Not a word, mind,’ he said hastily.
‘Not a hint,’ she promised lightly, and went fluttering off across the lawn, the Chinese robe huddled about her.
As soon as she was out of earshot Meggie caught Abbershaw’s arm.
‘George,’ she said, ‘the Colonel didn’t invite Albert Campion here.’
He turned to her sharply.
‘How do you know?’ he demanded.
The girl spoke dryly.
‘Because,’ she said, ‘the Colonel himself pointed Campion out to me and asked who he was. Why, George,’ she went on suddenly, as the idea occurred to her, ‘nobody asked him – he hasn’t any business here at all!’
Abbershaw nodded.
‘That’s just exactly what had occurred to me,’ he said, and relapsed into silence.