"We are in the arena!"
"Ah—I understand."
"If we go to Sherry's, and Mrs. Shiffney speaks about coming to a rehearsal, what do you mean to do?"
"What do you think about it?"
"Of course she only wants to come in the hope of being able to carry a bad report to the Senniers."
Claude was silent for a moment. Then he said:
"That may be. But—we are in the arena."
"What is it?"
"You dislike Mrs. Shiffney, you distrust her, but you do think she has taste, judgment, don't you?"
"Yes—some."