It will be so stimulating to work with you. I am certain that between us we shall be able to create something marvellous.”

With a gracious smile Mrs. Greig consulted the diamond-studded watch which decorated her wrist. Then, dropping her still-lighted cigarette into the adjacent bowl of roses, she flicked aside a speck of dust and rose wearily to her feet.

“I shall have to be going now. I have promised the dear Princess faithfully that I will be at the Albert Hall to-night, and I must call in at the bank to collect my emeralds. Such a nuisance, but my husband will insist upon my leaving them there when we are out of Town. He has burglars on the brain—definitely.”

Moving toward the door which Sally had politely opened, she stepped out into the busy world of the King’s Road. A trail of exotic scent lingered behind her, and almost before she was safely out of earshot Ruth had risen from her chair with a disgusted sniff.

“Blast the scented pole-cat!” she exclaimed. “Like her confounded cheek, dropping her filthy cigarette into our roses.” As she spoke she fished out the offending stub, and flinging it viciously into the fireplace, wiped her fingers on her skirt.

“Simmer down, darling.” Sally smiled soothingly. “Think what a nice little packet we can make out of it. Why, if I can jolly her along properly we ought to pull in at least thirty or forty pounds.”

“That’s the only thing that stopped me from boxing her ears.” Ruth gave a scornful shrug. “Rest and meditation indeed! What she means is that she stuffs herself full of lunch and then lies down to sleep it off. Snores like a grampus, too, I’ll bet.”

“Does a grampus snore?” inquired Sally. “I thought it only blew.”

“Ordering you about, too, as if you were a skivvy! ‘You must come round to-morrow—four o’clock will be a convenient time.’ ’Pon my soul, some of these rich women ought to be taken out and ducked.”

“Still, they are rich,” commented Sally. “That’s the only thing that really matters to us.” With a deft touch she rearranged one or two of the roses which her partner’s impulsive action had slightly displaced. “I think I’ll go down and have a scout round the basement. We’ve quite a lot of odds and ends stuffed away, and with any luck I might be able to work some of them off. By the way, Sheila rang up while you were out and said she was going to blow in this morning. If she does, you can send her down.”

“What does she want now?” inquired Ruth suspiciously.

“Haven’t an idea. She only said that it was very urgent and would I make a point of being in.”

“That means she is going to ask you to do something for her.”

“Shouldn’t be surprised.”

“I don’t see why she should always come bothering you when she’s in a mess. You’re too unselfish and good-natured, Sally, that’s the truth. If she were my sister I’d soon tell her off.”

“One can’t be brutal to Sheila. It isn’t her fault that she’s constantly getting herself into jams: with a face like hers that’s practically bound to happen. She’ll be all right as soon as she’s married Julian. He’ll make her drop the whole of the crowd she knows at present, and she’ll settle down in state as the wife of a future Prime Minister. Can’t you picture her standing at the top of a marble staircase shaking hands with ambassadors?”

“Men are fools,” declared Ruth contemptuously. “If Julian Raymond had any sense he’d have fallen for you instead of Sheila. You’d have made him a wonderful wife, while the only thing she’ll do is to lounge around and spend his money.”

“And a very nice way of passing the time.” Sally’s blue eyes twinkled mischievously. “No, my dear, you needn’t waste your sympathy on me. I haven’t the remotest ambition to be a political hostess, and as for living with a pompous prig like Julian—why, I should be so bored I should probably take to drink.