"As to Alston Lake, he quite astonished us!" she said presently. "He is going to be a huge success."
She discussed the singers, showing her usual half-slipshod discrimination, dropping here and there criticisms full of acuteness.
"Altogether," she concluded, "it has been a most interesting and unusual evening. Ah, there is Monsieur Gillier!"
Gillier came up and received congratulations. His expression was very strange. It seemed to combine something that was morose with a sort of exultation. Once he shot a half savage glance at Claude. He raved about Enid Mardon.
"We are going round to see her!" Mrs. Shiffney said. "Come, Mr. Ramer!"
Quickly she wished Charmian and Claude good-night.
"All my congratulations!" she said. "And a thousand wishes for a triumph on the first night. By the way, will it really be on the twenty-eighth, do you think?"
"I believe so," said Claude.
"Can it be ready?"
"We mean to try."