In a way, it was almost pathetic to see his pleasure in being addressed by one of his own guests.

Arnold drew a little away and looked across the banks of roses.

There was something fascinating to him in the unheard conversation of Sabatini and Starling, on the opposite side of the table.

Everything they said was in an undertone and the inexpressive faces of the two men gave no indication as to the nature of their conversation.

Yet the sense of something mysterious in this house and among these guests was growing all the time with Arnold..