Why (he protested secretly), she was even tongue-tied!

“Glad to meet you, Mr. Machin,” she said awkwardly, in a weak voice, with a peculiar gesture as she shook hands.  Then, a mechanical, nervous giggle; and then silence!

“Happy to make your acquaintance, sir,” said Mr. Seven Sachs, and the arch-famous American actor-author also lapsed into silence.  But the silence of Mr. Seven Sachs was different from Rose Euclid’s.  He was not shy.  A dark and handsome, tranquil, youngish man, with a redoubtable square chin, delicately rounded at the corners, he strikingly resembled his own figure on the stage; and moreover, he seemed to regard silence as a natural and proper condition.  He simply stood, in a graceful posture, with his muscles at ease, and waited.  Mr. Bryany, behind, seemed to be reduced in stature, and to have become apologetic for himself in the presence of greatness.

Still, Mr. Bryany did say something.

Said Mr. Bryany: 

“Sorry to hear you’ve been seedy, Mr. Machin!”

“Oh, yes!” Rose Euclid blurted out, as if shot.  “It’s very good of you to ask us up here.”

Mr. Seven Sachs concurred, adding that he hoped the illness was not serious.

Edward Henry said it was not.

“Won’t you sit down, all of you?” said Edward Henry. 
“Miss—­er—­Euclid—­”

They all sat down except Mr. Bryany.

“Sit down, Bryany,” said Edward Henry.  “I’m glad to be able to return your hospitality at the Turk’s Head.”

This was a blow for Mr. Bryany, who obviously felt it, and grew even more apologetic as he fumbled with assumed sprightliness at a chair.

“Fancy your being here all the time!” said he.  “And me looked for you everywhere—­”

“Mr. Bryany,” Seven Sachs interrupted him calmly, “have you got those letters off?”

“Not yet, sir.”

Seven Sachs urbanely smiled.  “I think we ought to get them off to-night.”

“Certainly,” agreed Mr. Bryany with eagerness, and moved towards the door.

“Here’s the key of my sitting-room,” Seven Sachs stopped him, producing a key.

Mr. Bryany, by a mischance catching Edward Henry’s eye as he took the key, blushed.

In a moment Edward Henry was alone with the two silent celebrities.

“Well,” said Edward Henry to himself, “I’ve let myself in for it this time—­no mistake!  What in the name of common sense am I doing here?”

Rose Euclid coughed and arranged the folds of her dress.

“I suppose, like most Americans, you see all the sights,” said Edward Henry to Seven Sachs—­the Five Towns is much visited by Americans.  “What do you think of my dressing-gown?”

“Bully!” said Seven Sachs, with the faintest twinkle.  And Rose Euclid gave the mechanical, nervous giggle.

“I can do with this chap,” thought Edward Henry.

The gentleman-in-waiting entered with the supper menu.