As he finished he found Mrs. Cortlandt regarding him.
"Will you dance with me?" he inquired. "Yes. I saved the fourth and the tenth." As he filled in the allotted spaces, she said, in a low voice, "You are the boldest person! Did Mr. Garavel give you leave to do that, or—"
"Of course! Thank you." He made his way out of the press that had gathered and toward the open air. He was shaking with nervousness and cursed all government hotels where a man is denied the solace of a drink.
Runnels pounced upon him just outside.
"Well, well, quick! Did you make it?"
"Number nine."
"Good! I was gnawing my finger-nails. Whew! I'm glad that is over. Now pull yourself together and don't forget you have the first dance with Mrs. Runnels. There goes the music. I—I'm too rattled to dance."
Anthony found his friend's wife bubbling with excitement, and scarcely able to contain herself.
"Oh, I'll never live through it, I know," she cried, as soon as they were out upon the floor. "How CAN you be so calm?"
"I'm not. I'm as panicky as you are."