It was at this moment that Mrs. Shiffney came into a box at the back of the stalls followed by Jonson Ramer. Without taking off her sable coat she sat down in a corner and looked quickly over the obscure space before her. Immediately she saw Charmian and the dressmaker, who sat within a few yards of her. Claude was not visible. Mrs. Shiffney sat back a little farther in the box, and whispered to Mr. Ramer.
"Are you really going to join the Directorate of the Metropolitan?" she said.
"I may, when this season's over."
"Does Crayford know it?"
Mr. Ramer shook his massive and important head.
"I'm not certain of it myself," he observed, with a smile.
"And if you do join?"
"If I decide to join"—he glanced round the enormous empty house. "I think I should buy Crayford out of here."
"Would he go?"
"I think he might—for a price."