CHAPTER 46

At a pause in the entertainment, the man glanced at me and smiled. "Your face seems familiar," he said politely. "Weren't you in the Third Division during the war?"

"Yes, I was in the Ninth Machine-Gun Battalion." "I was in the Seventh Infantry until June nineteen-eighteen. I knew I'd seen you somewhere before."

We chatted for a moment about some dreary, grey little villages in France. He evidently lived nearby, as he mentioned that he had just bought a hydroplane and was planning to try it out in the morning.

"Would you like to join me, old sport? Just near the shore along the Sound."

"What time?"

"Any time that suits you best."

I was about to ask his name when Casey looked around and smiled. "Are you having a good time now?" she asked.

"Much better." I turned back to my new acquaintance. "This is quite an unusual party for me. I haven't even seen the host. I live over there"—I gestured towards the distant, invisible hedge—"and this man Sterling sent his chauffeur with an invitation."

For a moment, he looked at me as if he didn't understand.

"I'm Sterling," he said suddenly.