Although his
evening-dress was perfect in every detail, he conveyed a subtle
suggestion of horsiness. He reached the table and sat down without
invitation in the vacant chair.
'Pauline!' he said, sorrowfully.
'Algie!' said Lady Wetherby, tensely. 'I don't know what you've
come here for, and I don't remember asking you to sit down and put
your elbows on that table, but I want to begin by saying that I
will not be called Pauline. My name's Polly. You've got a way of
saying Pauline, as if it were a gentlemanly cuss-word, that makes
me want to scream. And while you're about it, why don't you say
how-d'you-do to Claire? You ought to remember her, she was my
bridesmaid.'
'How do you do, Miss Fenwick. Of course, I remember you perfectly.
I'm glad to see you again.'
'And now, Algie, what is it? Why have you come here?' Lord
Wetherby looked doubtfully at Claire. 'Oh, that's all right,' said
Lady Wetherby. 'Claire knows all about it--I told her.'
'Then I appeal to Miss Fenwick, if, as you say, she knows all the
facts of the case, to say whether it is reasonable to expect a man
of my temperament, a nervous, highly-strung artist, to welcome the
presence of snakes at the breakfast-table. I trust that I am not
an unreasonable man, but I decline to admit that a long, green
snake is a proper thing to keep about the house.
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