'Music is an excellent way to talk in private even when surrounded by people,' I observed. 

 A delighted grin spread over his face. 'Yes, indeed it is, though I wasn't sure you'd be so quick off the mark,' he confessed. 

 'Oh! I'm growing to be quite good at subterfuge. And I could tell by the way you hurried to lead me in to dinner that you wished to speak with me.'

 'It wasn't so much that, as being awfully glad to see you.'

 'Glad to see me?'

 'Yes. I know that sounds odd, but, the thing is, I wasn't at all sure that you would be at dinner. Or here at all, actually.'

 'Why ever not?' I asked, striving for nonchalance. 

 'I don't know. It...

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