Mrs.Cat's eyes were turned towards the ground: but her face was deadly pale.
The party began drinking.

Hayes kept up his reputation as a toper, and swallowed one, two, three bottles without wincing.

He grew talkative and merry, and began to sing songs and to cut jokes; at which Wood laughed hugely, and Billings after him.

Mrs.Cat could not laugh; but sat silent.
What ailed her?
Was she thinking of the Count?
She had been with Max that day, and had promised him, for the next night at ten, an interview near his lodgings at Whitehall.

It was the first time that she would see him alone.