Braybrooke replied that he had seen her, and that she was looking, in his opinion, remarkably well, even somewhat younger than usual.
“She seems to have had an excellent time on the Riviera and in Switzerland.”
“In Switzerland!” said Craven, thinking of Braybrooke’s remarks about Catherine Bewdley and Lausanne.
“Yes, but I don’t think she has been ill. I ventured to—just to say a word as to doctors, and she assured me she had been perfectly well all the time she was away. Are you going to see her?”
“I’ve got a good deal to do just now,” said Craven, coldly and with a slight rise of colour. “But of course I hope to see Lady Sellingworth again some day. She is a charming woman. It’s always a pleasure to have a talk with her.”
“Yes, indeed! By the way, who is Beryl Van Tuyn’s extraordinarily good-looking young friend? Do you happen to know?”
“What friend?” asked Craven, with sudden sharpness.
“The tall man she has been seen about with lately.”
“I don’t know.”
After a slight pause, very intentional on Braybrooke’s part, Craven replied: