Keith was about to step forward to greet his old acquaintance; but Wickersham barely nodded.
"Ah, how do you do? Yes, I know Mr. Keith.--If I can take care of the present, I let the past and the future take care of themselves," he continued to Mrs. Lancaster. "Come and have a turn. That will make the present worth all of the past."
"Ferdy, you are discreet," said one of the other men, with a laugh.
"My dear fellow," said the young man, turning, "I assure you, you don't know half my virtues."
"What are your virtues, Ferdy?"
"One is not interfering with others." He turned back to Mrs. Lancaster. "Come, have a turn." He took one of his hands from his pocket and held it out.
"I am engaged," said Mrs. Lancaster.
"Oh, that makes no difference. You are always engaged; come," he said.
"I beg your pardon. It makes a difference in this case," said Keith, coming forward. "I believe this is my turn, Mrs. Lancaster?"
Wickersham's glance swept across, but did not rest on him, though it was enough for Keith to meet it for a second, and, without looking, the young man turned lazily away.