Fortunately the chair he was sitting in, which was battened to the deck, had a wing-back and his head rested against one of the wings, so that Ola knew it would be impossible for anybody coming through the door to know whether he was awake or asleep.
Just as she had planned, because she felt the Stewards outside would be listening in case they were required, she went on talking.
Because she did not dare try to imitate the Marquis’s voice, she made deep humming noises when he should have spoken which made it sound, she hoped, as if he was speaking in a lower tone than she was.
After ten minutes had passed, she rang the gold bell that stood on the table for a Steward.
As she had guessed, he was waiting outside and, as he opened the door, she called out in an excited tone, as if she was s
