Moreover, Sybil Linforth's eyes were at that moment resting with a quiet scrutiny upon his face.
"It was difficult to see exactly what she was wearing," he said.

"The gap in the crowd filled up so quickly." "There was time enough for any woman," said Mrs.Linforth with a smile.
"And more than time enough for any mother." "Mrs.Oliver is always, I believe, exquisitely dressed," said Sir John with an assumption of carelessness.

"I am not much of a judge myself." But his carelessness did not deceive his companion.

Sybil Linforth was certain, absolutely certain, that the cause of the constraint and embarrassment which had been audible in Sir John's voice, and noticeable in his very manner, was that double string of big pearls of perfect colour which adorned Violet Oliver's white throat.
She looked Sir John straight in the face.
"Would you introduce Dick to Mrs.Oliver now, if you had not done it before ?" she asked.
"My dear lady," protested Sir John, "if I met Dick at a little hotel in the Dauphine, and did not introduce him to the ladies who were travelling with me, it would surely reflect upon Dick, not upon the ladies"; and with that subtle evasion Sir John escaped from the fire of questions.

He turned the conversation into another channel, pluming himself upon his cleverness.