"Take care what you say, Bertram. Don't make Peter jealous! I thought"—she added mischievously—"that it was a case there..."
At her merry gesture toward him McTaggart laughed.
"Only a mild calf-love affair! But I always imagined she'd marry a title."
"Well," said the Bishop, "I rather believe it will come to that in the end. I hear—but it's quite between ourselves—that he's down on the next list of Birthday honours."
"Indeed? A useful man to the party?"
McTaggart saw a twinkle come into the prominent short-sighted eyes.
"Hardly as a speaker perhaps. But he has a valuable gift—of silence! Very necessary on occasions."
Lady Leason smiled subtly. "And, of course," proceeded the Bishop hurriedly—"the Cadells are very wealthy people. With his father-in-law to finance him, and a beautiful wife, he stands a chance of being Lord Fleming some day—of a mythical Castle like Laura's friends ... I forget the name."
"D'you mean 'the Crumpets?'"
The hostess laughed, mischief in her hazel eyes.