He had managed to borrow a dress-suit, and wore an orchid in his buttonhole.

It was probably the first time that Jocelyn had seen him in this garb of civilisation, which is at the same time the most becoming and the most trying variety of costume left to sensible men in these days.

A dress-suit finds a man out sooner than anything except speech.
Jocelyn was civil in her reception--more so, indeed, than Maurice Gordon had hoped for.

She seemed almost glad to see Durnovo, and evinced quite a kindly interest in his movements.

Durnovo attributed this to the dress-suit, while Maurice concluded that his obvious hints, thrown out before dinner, had fallen on fruitful ground.
At dinner Victor Durnovo was quite charmed with the interest that Jocelyn took in the expedition, of which, he gave it to be understood, he was the chief.