"A thousand pardons for keeping you waiting. I did not know you had come. I was engaged with my friends. May I have the honour of presenting them? Princess, this is Mr. Silas Finn, the managing director of Fish Palaces Limited. These are two very dear friends, Miss Seddon—Mr. Simmons. Miss Winwood—Colonel Winwood, may I?"
He waved an introductory hand. The Princess: bowed; then, struck by their unsmiling faces and by Paul's strange manner, turned to him quickly.
"'Qu'est ce qu'il y a?"
"Je vais vous le dire."
He pushed a chair. She sat down. Ursula Winwood sat in Paul's writing chair. The others remained standing.
"Mr. Finn called to inform me that he has been adopted as the Liberal candidate for Hickney Heath."' "My felicitations," said the Princess.
Silas bowed to her gravely and addressed Colonel Winwood.
"We have been, sir—Mr. Savelli and I—for some time on terms of personal friendship in the constituency."
"I see, I see," replied the Colonel, though he was somewhat puzzled. "Very polite and friendly, I'm sure."
"Mr. Finn also urges me to withdraw my candidature," said Paul.