Sylvia said quickly:
‘Don’t try!’ In a slower tone she added: ‘I don’t in the least want to know…’
‘Well, she was an Egeria!’ Tietjens said. ‘An inspiration to the distinguished. Mrs Macmaster is all that. The geniuses swarm round her, and with the really select ones she corresponds. She writes superior letters, about the Higher Morality usually; very delicate in feeling. Scotch naturally. When they go abroad she sends them snatches of London literary happenings; well done, mind you! And then, every now and then, she slips in something she wants Macmaster to have. But with great delicacy…Say it’s this C.B…she transfuses into the minds of Genius One, Two and Three the idea of a C.B. for Macmaster…Genius No. One lunches with the Deputy Sub–Patronage Secretary, who looks after literary hono
