Regardless. He took the proffered seat, accepted a cup of tea and sat back to wait. He considered it unlikely that he would have to reveal his hand so far as to prod the topic of conversation around to Dominka Popova; it being by far the most dramatic thing to happen among Ekamet society in some months, he fully expected to find it the primary subject of discussion across most of the city for a day or two.
And so it proved. One of Mrs. Halim’s guests, a grey-haired, stately woman whose name he had forgotten, leaned a little forward and said to him in a low voice: ‘Since you are here, Mr. Savast, you must satisfy our curiosity on a very particular point.’
‘I shall do my best to oblige,’ Konrad murmured.
‘Your ball, last night!’ she gushed. ‘Wonderful evening. Especially for the young peo
