is the Durmot flapper, for instance, who simply stops at
nothing, and you know what Van Tahn is like. Then there is Cyril
Skatterly; he has madness on one side of his family and a Hungarian
grandmother on the other."

"I don't see what they could do that would matter," said Lady Blonze.

"It's the unknown that is to be dreaded," said Sir Nicholas. "If
Skatterly took it into his head to represent a Bull of Bashan, well, I'd
rather not be here."

"Of course we shan't allow any Bible characters. Besides, I don't know
what the Bulls of Bashan really did that was so very dreadful; they just
came round and gaped, as far as I remember."

"My dear, you don't know what Skatterly's Hungarian imagination mightn't
read into the part; it would be small satisfaction to say to him
afterwards: 'You've behaved as no Bull of Bashan would have behaved.'"

"Oh, you're an alarmist," said Lady Blonze; "I particularly want to have
this idea carried out. It will be sure to be talked about a lot."

"That is quite possible," said Sir Nicholas.

* * * * *

Dinner that evening was not a particularly lively affair; the strain of
trying to impersonate a self-imposed character or to glean hints of
identity from other people's conduct acted as a check on the natural
festivity of such a gathering. There was a general feeling of gratitude
and acquiescence when good-natured Rachel Klammerstein suggested that
there should be an hour or two's respite from "the game" while they all
listened to a little piano-playing after dinner. Rachel's love of piano
music was not indiscriminate, and concentrated itself chiefly on
selections rendered by her idolised offspring, Moritz and Augusta, who,
to do them justice, played remarkably well.

The Klammersteins were deservedly popular as Christmas guests; they gave
expensive gifts lavishly on Christmas Day and New Year, and Mrs.
Klammerstein had already dropped hints of her intention to present the
prize for the best enacted character in the game competition. Every one
had brightened at this prospect; if it had fallen to Lady Blonze, as
hostess, to provide the prize, she would have considered that a little
souvenir of some twenty or twenty-five shillings' value would meet the
case, whereas coming from a Klammerstein source it would certainly run to
several guineas.

The close time for impersonation efforts came to an end with the final
withdrawal of Moritz and Augusta from the piano. Blanche Boveal r