They were in the now deserted
yellow drawing-room, which was still brilliantly lit, and full of the
already weary-looking flowers which had been arranged for the reception.
The last guest had gone and the carriage was waiting to take the Holmes
to Arkell House.
The maid did something to the diamonds in Lady Holme's hair with deft
fingers, and the light touch seemed to wake Lady Holme from a reverie.
She went to a mirror and looked into it steadily. The maid stood behind.
After a moment Lady Holme lifted her hand suddenly to her head, as if she
were going to take off her tiara. The maid could not repress a slight
movement of startled astonishment. Lady Holme saw it in the glass,
dropped her hand, and said:
"C'est tout, Josephine. Vous pouvez vous en aller."
"Merci, miladi."
She went out quietly.
Two or three minutes passed. Then Lord Holme's deep bass voice was
audible, humming vigorously:
"Ina, Ina, oh, you should have seen her!
Seen her with her eyes cast down.
She looked upon the floor,
And all the Johnnies swore
That Ina, Ina--oh, you should have seen her!--
That Ina was the /chic/-est girl in town."
Lady Holme frowned.
"Fritz!" she called rather sharply.
Lord Holme appeared with a coat thrown over his arm and a hat in his
hand. His brown face was beaming with self-satisfaction.
"Well, old girl, ready? What's up now?"
"I wish you wouldn't sing those horrible music-hall songs.
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