Behind him walked Mr. Bry, conducting a very young
old woman, immensely smart, immensely vivacious, and immensely pink, who
moved with an unnecessary alertness that was birdlike, and turned her
head about sharply on a long, thin neck decorated with a large diamond
dog-collar. Slung at her side there was a tiny jewelled tube.
"That's Mrs. Leo."
"She must be over sixty."
"She is."
The quartet sat down at the next table. Leo Ulford did not see Lady Holme
at once. When he caught sight of her, he got up, came to her, stood over
her and pressed her hand.
"Been away," he explained. "Only back to-night."
"I've been complaining to your father about you."
A slow smile overspread his chubby face.
"May I see you again after supper?"
"If you can find me."
"I can always manage to find what I want," he returned, still smiling.
When he had gone back to his table Robin Pierce said:
"How insolent Englishmen are allowed to be in Society! It always strikes
me after I've been a long time abroad. Doesn't anybody mind it?"
"Do you mean that you consider Mr. Ulford insolent?"
"In manner. Yes, I do."
"Well, I think there's something like Fritz about him."
Robin Pierce could not tell from the way this was said what would be a
safe remark to make. He therefore changed the subject.
"Do you know what Sir Donald's been doing?" he said.
"No. What?"
"Buying a Campo Santo."
"A Campo Santo! Is he going to bury himself, then? What do you mean,
Robin?"
"He called it a Campo Santo to Carey.
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