People will say anything, won't they, when a woman is attractive?
And she is so very lovely.
Tell me, is it true the Caxton-Hyslop marriage is not a success?'
She ran on, through a tangled fringe of gossip, never seeing that these names were alien to him, they meant nothing, and that as she prattled unaware he grew colder and more silent.
Never for a moment did he interrupt or glance at his watch; it was as though he had set himself a standard of behaviour, since the original lapse when he had made a fool of her in front of me, and clung to it grimly rather than offend again.
It was a page-boy in the end who released him, with the news that a dressmaker awaited Mrs Van Hopper in the suite.
He got up at once, pushing back his chair.
'Don't let me keep you,' he said.
'Fashions change so quickly nowadays they may even have altered by the time you get upstairs.'
The sting did not touch her, she accepted it as a pleasantry.
'It's so delightful to have run into you like this, Mr de Winter,' she said, as we went towards the lift; 'now I've been brave enough to break the ice I hope I shall see something of you.
You must come and have a drink some time in the suite.
I may have one or two people coming in tomorrow evening.
Why not join us?'
I turned away so that I should not watch him search for an excuse.
'I'm so sorry,' he said, 'tomorrow I am probably driving to Sospel, I'm not sure when I shall get back.'
Reluctantly she left it, but we still hovered at the entrance to the lift.
'I hope they've given you a good room; the place is half empty, so if you are uncomfortable mind you make a fuss.
Your valet has unpacked for you, I suppose?'
This familiarity was excessive, even for her, and I caught a glimpse of his expression.
'I don't possess one,' he said quietly; 'perhaps you would like to do it for me?'
This time his shaft had found its mark, for she reddened, and laughed a little awkwardly.
'Why, I hardly think…' she began, and then suddenly, and unbelievably, she turned upon me, 'Perhaps you could make yourself useful to Mr de Winter, if he wants anything done.
You're a capable child in many ways.'
There was a momentary pause, while I stood stricken, waiting for his answer.
He looked down at us, mocking, faintly sardonic, a ghost of a smile on his lips.
'A charming suggestion,' he said, 'but I cling to the family motto.
He travels the fastest who travels alone.
Perhaps you have not heard of it.'
And without waiting for her answer he turned and left us.
'What a funny thing,' said Mrs Van Hopper, as we went upstairs in the lift.
'Do you suppose that sudden departure was a form of humour?
Men do such extraordinary things.
I remember a well-known writer once who used to dart down the Service staircase whenever he saw me coming.
I suppose he had a penchant for me and wasn't sure of himself.
However, I was younger then.'
The lift stopped with a jerk.
We arrived at our floor.
The page-boy flung open the gates.
'By the way, dear,' she said, as we walked along the corridor, 'don't think I mean to be unkind, but you put yourself just a teeny bit forward this afternoon.
Your efforts to monopolise the conversation quite embarrassed me, and I'm sure it did him.
Men loathe that sort of thing.'
I said nothing.
There seemed no possible reply.
'Oh, come, don't sulk,' she laughed, and shrugged her shoulders; 'after all, I am responsible for your behaviour here, and surely you can accept advice from a woman old enough to be your mother.
Eh bien, Blaize.je viens…' and humming a tune she went into the bedroom where the dressmaker was waiting for her.
I knelt on the window-seat and looked out upon the afternoon.
The sun shone very brightly still, and there was a gay high wind.
In half an hour we should be sitting to our bridge, the windows tightly closed, the central heating turned to the full.
I thought of the ashtrays I would have to clear, and how the squashed stubs, stained with lipstick, would sprawl in company with discarded chocolate creams.