Their eyes and whole attention seemed rivetted upon Francis.

No one seemed to notice the newcomer who passed quietly to a chair in the background, although he was a person of some note and interest to all of them.

Imperturbable and immaculate as ever, Sir Timothy Brast smiled amiably upon the little gathering, summoned a waiter and ordered a Dry Martini.
"I can scarcely promise to do that," Francis said slowly, his eyes resting for a second or two upon each of the four faces.

"Exact solutions are a little out of my line.

I think I can promise to give you a shock, though, if you're strong enough to stand it." There was another of those curiously charged silences.