Mrs Frémont lowered her gaze, in a pretence of shyness. ‘If blowing people’s hats to bits, and rowing a Whitehall boat out into the Bay to corner the market in blankets, well, if those aren’t examples of immediacy, I don’t know what are.’

Collis put his hands stiffly to his sides and gave a mildly mocking bow. ‘Personally, Mrs Frémont, I prefer to look on them as examples of contemporary humour.’

Mrs Frémont gave a high, light trill of laughter. Those of her guests who were standing nearest turned around suspiciously to see what it was that had delighted her so much. There were nudges and whispers, and more than one disapproving frown. San Francisco society was still sensitive to the point of mania about its rude Bear Flag beginnings and the shortness of its history, and it protected its golden circle by treating merchants, gate-crashers, and parvenus with elaborate disdain. What was disturbing them now, though, was that Collis had all the appearance and manners of an Eastern gentleman; and if he had managed to make Jessie Frémont laugh within one minute of meeting her, then perhaps he had all the necessary background and breeding to make him a social prize. It was all very disturbing, particularly to those covetous hostesses who didn’t know who he was, or where he had come from, or if he might be the new ‘catch’ of the coming season. All around the room, the chatter of conversation changed tone, and became a whispery exchange of gossip.

‘You must come over and meet my husband,’ said Jessie Frémont. ‘I’m not sure that he’ll appreciate your sense of fun, but he always likes to meet newcomers to San Francisco, and hear what they think of it.’

‘I thought at first that San Francisco was a gypsy carnival, held on a hill,’ said Collis. ‘But tonight I see that it has its beauties, its manners, and its graces, and that all three of these virtues have their queen.’

Mrs Frémont coloured. ‘You’re most flattering, Mr Edmonds. Perhaps you’d better come see my husband before you sweep me off my feet.’

She excused herself from her previous circle of friends and led Collis and Andy through the milling, curious guests as if they were visiting royalty from Europe (always a great social coup, even if they were only half-witted barons from Schleswig-Holstein). Collis played up to the general curiosity by nodding and smiling to everyone as they walked down the length of the reception room, with its palms and statues and rococo furniture.