Titania pointed her hand at the shrinking horde.
"Every single one of these gentlemen, to say nothing of Lord Bramber, who is with his invalid father at the present moment, came to me and said he was married to you! Every one of them without an exception!"
"I am very much obliged to them," said Pen. "In the circumstances, I think it was noble of them."
"Are you alluding to the advertisement in the Times?" asked Titania. "Are you aware that every one now says that you have adopted an infant?"
"What rot!" said Bob.
"Robert," cried his grandmother, "be silent, I command you. I will not be interrupted by you. Are you aware, Penelope, that it is said all over England and Europe and the blatant United States that you have adopted an infant?"
Penelope shook her head.
"It's the first I've heard of it," said Penelope, who was the colour of a rose.
"Is it true? Do not evade my question," cried Titania.
"I don't see, granny, what right you have to ask 'em," said the irrepressible Bob. "I sent you a wire to say it wasn't black, and it isn't."