He wasn't going after her. He had been trying to get away from Straker; but Straker had been too much for him. Besides, he had understood Straker's delicacy in turning down the lights, and he didn't want to show himself just yet to the others.
They strolled together amicably toward the lounge and sat there.
Straker had intended to say, "What's up?" but other words were given him.
"What's Philippa been up to?"
Furnival pulled himself together. "Nothing," he replied. "It was me."
"What did you do?"
Furnival was silent.
"Did you propose to her, or what?"
"I made," said Furnival, "a sort of p-proposal."
"That she should count the world well lost—was that it?"