Lady Renshaw was in possession of a certain secret, and although she had given her word that she would not reveal it for the present, it was too much to expect of poor human nature that she should not make some allusion to it, if the opportunity were given her, especially in conversation with another of her own sex.
‘I understand that we are likely to have one or two important arrivals at the hotel this evening,’ she remarked with studied indifference, as she shook a little dust off the flounces of her dress.
‘Indeed. A Russian Prince, an Ambassador, an Emperor travelling incog., or whom?’
‘Dear me, no!—nobody of that kind. But my lips are sealed. I must not say more.’
‘Then why did you say anything?’ remarked Miss Pen to herself.
‘Still, when you come to know, I feel sure that you will be surprised—very greatly surprised. Strange events may happen here before to-morrow. But I dare not say more, so you must not press me.’
‘I won’t,’ responded Miss Pen emphatically.
‘Why, I declare, yonder come my darling Bella and Mr Golightly! I’ve been looking out for them this hour or more.—You will excuse me, my dear Miss Gaisford, I’m sure.’
‘Certainly,’ was the uncompromising reply.
Her ladyship smiled and nodded, and then tripped away as lightly and gracefully as a youthful elephant might have done.