Van Bleit looked at her. He had not, as a matter of fact, intended the remark to be heard. "His diplomacy." "You are pleased to be cryptic," Mrs Smythe returned. He suddenly laughed. "I must have made my meaning very obscure when you're not on it," he said. "I was merely criticising the fellow's habit of ignoring the people it doesn't suit him to see. But come... Shall we go? You are neither of you eating, and I don't care to feed alone." Lawless rose when they did, and, with his partner on his arm, followed them to the ball-room. The band was playing an extra, a waltz. He passed his arm around his companion's waist and joined the throng of dancers, whose numbers momentarily increased as the supper-room emptied itself of diners. Van Bleit was waltzing with Mrs Lawless. He had persuaded her to try the floor when it was not so crowded; but before the dance was far advanced the room had filled surprisingly, and dancing became difficult. A slight block occurred in one corner, and Van Bleit found himself held up temporarily with his partner, so closely wedged that he had much ado to keep the crowd from pressing on her. "I'm sorry," he said. "When we get out of this we'll find a seat somewhere outside." Mrs Lawless did not answer him. She was conscious of an arm pressing against her shoulder, pressing hard, and, looking up, met fully the keen grey piercing eyes of the man whom before that night she had not seen since the afternoon when he had called upon her at her house in Rondebosch. The arm, the shoulder of which pressed her shoulder, belonged to him. It encircled the girl who had sat beside him during supper, the girl in the white frock with the string of pearls about her neck. She leant against him, laughing, flushed, and happy, her eager eyes alight with excitement. It was all enjoyment to her; the crush with that strong arm to shield her was part of the fun. Mrs Lawless scarcely noticed the girl; she looked above her, and for a long moment gazed back into the sombre dominating eyes, the owner of which surveyed her as he might have surveyed a stranger, with an intense yet aloof curiosity. In the quiet, steady, concentrated look he bent upon her, and in his grave, unsmiling face, there was an amount of interest, even of admiration, but no outward sign of recognition. The initiative, Mrs Lawless realised, was with her. She smiled faintly, a smile that was half-diffident, half-wistful; and then suddenly the crowd swayed, parted, and moved forward again; and Van Bleit steered his partner between the revolving couples to the nearest exit. "What a beastly squeeze," he said, when they emerged into the fresh air. "I'm afraid you will blame me for letting you in for that."