The little party trooped out of the restaurant and made their way to a corner of the lounge, where tables had already been prepared with coffee and liqueurs.

Geraldine Conyers and Captain Granet, who had lingered behind, found a table to themselves.

Lady Anselman laid her fingers upon Major Thomson's arm.
"Please talk for a few more minutes to Selarne," she begged.

"Your French is such a relief to her." He obeyed immediately, although his eyes strayed more than once towards the table at which Captain Granet and his companion were seated.

Madame Selarne was in a gossipy mood and they found many mutual acquaintances.
"To speak a foreign language as you do," she told him, "is wonderful.
Is it in French alone, monsieur, that you excel, or are you, perhaps, a great linguist ?" "I can scarcely call myself that," he replied, "but I do speak several other languages.