CHAPTER XXII
Break-through IIt occurred to Mr. Campion, who had remained at his point of vantage, that defeat had the interesting effect on Lord Ludor of increasing his humanity while reducing his size. The rueful smile and faintly soiled or, at least, homely appearance of the resigned loser had settled over him, and the change in the atmosphere was considerable.
Those who had trembled were now aggrieved, and on all sides people were unfreezing into recognizable personalities as they took sly digs at him, presumably to make sure he was not dying.
“I hadn’t a clue,” he said to the blond secretary, who now looked bigger and as if she could take care of herself. “And even you have no idea how damn witty that is! Take a note: Pa Paling goes in the black book.”
She looked startled. “Won’t t
