"The shorts will be caught," thought Cheever. "The devil! I must cover."
"Has he lied to her?" said Mrs. Kildair to herself. "If everything is all right, why should he conceal it from any one?"
She went across the room, stopping at the punch-table.
"Have you everything you need?" she asked.
"Everything, thank you," Majendie answered gently; but there was in his voice a tired note, as if some effort had suddenly exhausted him.
"I understood what you meant," she said, looking at him not without a little pity—an emotion which was rare with her. "Let me congratulate you on the result of this afternoon."
"Thank you very much for your congratulations," he said quietly, taking her hand. "If you knew, you will understand why I was kept so late."
As he bowed, the front of his jacket opening a little, she saw or fancied she saw in the inner pocket a strip of green, slightly protruding. She left him, still unconvinced, and turned to the company.
"Everything ready, Teddy? All right. Every one sit down. Mrs. Cheever and Mrs. Bloodgood are appointed butlers—because real work will do them good. Sit down, sit down. I'll be back in a minute."
As she turned to her bedroom, there came a strong ring, twice repeated. She paused, astonished.