there are any changes."

 

"Thank you, Miss Kenton."

 

I hurried down the stairs and was in time to see the gentlemen proceeding into

the smoking room. The footmen looked relieved to see me, and I immediately

signalled them to get to their positions.

 

Whatever had taken place in the banqueting hall after my departure, there was

now a genuinely celebratory atmosphere amongst the guests. All around the

smoking room, gentlemen seemed to be standing in clusters laughing and clapping

each other on the shoulder. Mr Lewis, so far as I could ascertain, had already

retired. I found myself making my way through the guests, a bottle of port upon

my tray. I had just finished serving a glass to a gentleman when a voice behind

me said:

 

"Ah, Stevens, you're interested in fish, you say."

 

I turned to find the young Mr Cardinal beaming happily at me. I smiled also and

said: "Fish, sir?"

 

"When I was young, I used to keep all sorts of tropical fish in a tank. Quite a

little aquarium it was. I say, Stevens, are you all right?"

 

I smiled again. "Quite all right, thank you, sir."