The great conversationalist, it seemed, was off.

Miranda, Dennis, Harold Jupp, Sir Chichester, even Joan looked up with expectation.
"Yes," said Lady Splay, encouraging him.

She looked around at her guests.

"Now you shall see," she seemed to say.
"How we laughed! What sprightly talk! The fine flavour of that party is quite incommunicable.

Just dear old friends, you see, intimate, congenial friends." Mr.Albany Todd stopped.