"Oh!"
Her eyes barely glanced his way; but the Earl of Steepleton saw in them what he had never been able to bring there.
The Englishman put up his monocle and this time gazed long at Gordon.
"Nervy chap!" he said quietly. "Won't you present me after dinner?"
In his slow mind was dawning an idea that, perhaps, after all, this quiet American who had driven his way forward had found a baiting-place which he, with all his titles and long pedigrees, could not enter. His honest, outspoken admiration had, however, done more to make him a place in that guarded fortress than all Mrs. Rhodes's praises had effected.
A little later the guests had all departed or scattered. Those who remained were playing cards and appeared settled for a good while.
"Keith, we are out of it. Let's have a game of billiards," said the host, who had given his seat to a guest who had just come in after saying good night on the stair to one of the ladies.
Keith followed him to the billiard-room, a big apartment finished in oak, with several large tables in it, and he and Rhodes began to play. The game, however, soon languished, for the two men had much to talk about.
"Houghton, you may go," said Rhodes to the servant who attended to the table. "I will ring for you when I want you to shut up."
"Thank you, sir"; and he was gone.