"Have you any objection to my being here?" she asked.
He shrugged his shoulders.
"It was rather a surprise."
"As I don't always warn you beforehand, I'm afraid a good many things I do must come as a surprise to you."
"And to yourself?"
"You must explain that."
"Surely no explanation is needed?"
"No explanation is wanted. We can start level, and I needn't bother to explain my presence here."
Nigel hastened to welcome a seeming ally.