‘Hallo Birkin! Hallo PUSSUM, when did you come back?’ he said eagerly.

‘Today.’

‘Does Halliday know?’

‘I don’t know. I don’t care either.’

‘Ha-ha! The wind still sits in that quarter, does it? Do you mind if I come over to this table?’

‘I’m talking to Wupert, do you mind?’ she replied, coolly and yet appealingly, like a child.

‘Open confession — good for the soul, eh?’ said the young man. ‘Well, so long.’

And giving a sharp look at Birkin and at Gerald, the young man moved off, with a swing of his coat skirts.