no longer be equal to measuring my wits against
the Morses of the world."

Jacob smiled.

"I think you gave that young man the surprise of his life."

"I'm not at all sure that I didn't play it a trifle low down on Mr.
Sydney Morse," Felixstowe reflected. "He was a very credulous
simpleton, for all his cunning. The stage setting of his scheme was
wonderful and the details perfect, but he lacked the insight of a
great crook. On the whole I am glad that your brother let the bunch
off lightly."

"Samuel is almost fatally good-natured," his brother remarked. "I have
never known him to stay angry for long with any one."

"But what a prince! What a pasha!" Felixstowe declared
enthusiastically. "He decked me out at Tiffany's till I feel like a
walking jeweller's shop in the evening. And what a send-off! The old
country's going to seem a bit flat, Jacob. I feel as though I were
coming back to the rustic life."

"It's something to have any sort of life to come back to," Jacob
sighed.

The young man glanced at his companion with thoughtful eyes.

"Got the pip, old bean?" he enquired, with gentle sympathy.

Jacob shook his head.

"Slight attack of the blues, I suppose," he confessed, his eyes
travelling over the deep green of the fields and the dark woods beyond
the harbour. "Homecoming always seems a bit flat for a lonely man. I
suppose Dick Dauncey will be the only human being who cares sixpence
whether I turn up again or not."

"What did you have for luncheon?" Felixstowe asked anxiously.

"Whereas you," Jacob went on,--

"That reminds me," his companion interrupted, "I told Mary to bring
the little car down for me, if there was nothing much doing in town. I
wonder whether she's here."

"Good heavens!" Jacob exclaimed. "Do you mean to say that you have
asked your sister to drive that crazy old tin kettle of yours all the
way down from London?"

"It's a damned nice little car, properly handled," its owner objected
stiffly. "I'll lay odds that if Mary started we shall see her on the
dock."

Notwithstanding his avowed disapproval, Jacob's interest in the
landing perceptibly increased, and much of his depression had passed
away when they recognised Lady Mary amongst the little crowd waiting
on the dock. She was looking very smart and pretty in her simple
motoring clothes, and Jacob realised, even as they shook hands, why
his interest in the ladies of New York had lacked spontaneity. She
chattered to them gail