“I think—I’m afraid I can’t come.”
“Oh, no—it can’t be that! But I have reserved the table in the corner for us. And we are going to have gnocchi done in a special way with cheese. Gnocchi with cheese! Please—please don’t disappoint me.”
“But I haven’t been very well the last two days, and I’m rather afraid of the cold.”
“I am so sorry. But it’s absolutely dry under foot. I swear it is!”
A pause. Then his voice added:
“Since I came in I have refused an invitation to dine out to-night. I absolutely relied on you.”
“Yes?”
“Yes. It was from Miss Van Tuyn, to dine with her at the Bella Napoli.”
“I’ll come!” said Lady Sellingworth. “Good-bye.”
And she put up the receiver.