CHAPTER 49

was a big sensation." He smiled with jovial condescension and added, "Some

sensation!" prompting laughter from everyone. "The piece is titled 'Vladimir Tostoff's Jazz History of the World.'"

The nature of Mr. Tostoff's composition escaped me, as just as it began, my eyes fell on Sterling, standing alone on the marble steps and observing the groups with approving eyes.

His tanned skin was attractively taut, and his short hair seemed freshly trimmed. I could detect nothing sinister about him. I wondered if the fact that he wasn't drinking

helped to set him apart from his guests, as he seemed to become more proper as the fraternal hilarity increased. When the 'Jazz History of the World' concluded, girls were

leaning their heads on men's shoulders in a playful, convivial manner, girls were swooning back into men's arms, even into groups, knowing someone would catch them

—but no one swooned backward onto Sterling, and no French bob brushed Sterling's shoulder, and no singing quartets were formed with Sterling's head as one link.

"I beg your pardon."

Sterling's butler was suddenly at our side. "Miss Taylor?" he asked. "I'm sorry, but Mr. Sterling would like to speak with you alone." 

"With me?" she said in surprise. 

"Yes, madame."

She stood up slowly, raising her eyebrows at me in astonishment, and followed the butler towards the house. I noticed that she wore her evening dress, and all her dresses,

like sports clothes—there was a jaunty quality to her movements as if she had first learned to walk