“Thank you, darling. I do feel a little silly, and yet . . . when I was away in San Francisco, she came out to see me in Fort Lee. Uninvited. She just showed up. And now she just showed up again this morning.”

“What did she say?”

“I didn’t give her a chance. I was rushing to the ferry to see these children and their mother, who is also their manager and very ambitious. I just waved and kept going. She called out something about offering to give me a lift. I think she had a car waiting. I just kept moving and hopped the ferry. Isaac, I’m sure I’m being silly. I mean, Lowell Falconer knows her. He didn’t seem to think she was strange. On the other hand, I doubt anyone in a skirt would be strange to Lowell.”

“Who told you she had shown up when you were in San Francisco?”

“Mademoiselle Duvall.”

“What did she think of Katherine?”

“I think she sensed what I sensed, though not as strongly. Strange people often show up at the studio. The movies tug at them. They imagine all sorts of fantastical futures for themselves. But Katherine Dee is different. She’s obviously well-off and well-bred.”

“She’s an orphan.”

“Oh, my Lord! I didn’t realize. Maybe she does need the work.”

“Her father left her a fortune.”

“How do you know?”

“We’ve investigated everyone in the Hull 44 set.”

“So I’m probably imagining things.”

“Better safe than sorry. I’ll have Research dig deeper.”

“Come meet the children . . . Fred, say hello to my fiancé, Mr. Bell.”

“Hello, Mr. Bell,” Fred mumbled, staring at his shoes. He was a shy little guy, seven or eight.

“Hello, Fred. When I came in, I heard you dancing so fast I thought it was a machine gun.”

“Did you?” He looked up and studied Bell with a warm smile.

“How’s Miss Morgan treating you?”

“Oh, she’s very nice.”

“I agree.”

“And this is Adele,” said Marion. The girl was buoyant, several years older, and did not need any coaxing. “Are you really Miss Morgan’s fiancé?”

“I’m the lucky man.”

“I’ll say you are!”

“I’ll say you’re very wise. What’s the movie about?”

Adele looked surprised when little Fred answered for her. “Child dancers are captured by Indians.”

“What’s it called?”

“The Lesson. The kids teach the Indians a new dance and they let them go.”

“Sounds uplifting. I look forward to seeing it. Pleased to meet you, Fred.” He shook his little hand again. “Pleased to meet you, Adele.” He shook hers.

Marion said, “I’ll see you in the morning, children,” and called to their mother, “Eight o’clock call, Mrs. Astaire.”

They stood alone at the back of the house.