on't object to anything in reason.
But you are too fond of taking French leave with other people's property.
That gun, for instance--"

"Oh, that's all right," the boy assured him eagerly. "It kicks most
infernally, but I soon got the trick of it after a bruise or two. I say,
you haven't seen anything of that little devil Cinders? He's gone down a
rabbit-hole. Won't Chris be in a stew?"

Mordaunt possessed himself of the gun without further argument. "Then
you'd better set to work and find him. Chris is going out this
afternoon."

"In the motor?" Noel's eyes shone. "I'll go, too. You needn't bother
about Cinders. He always turns up sooner or later. Don't tell Chris, or
she'll spend the rest of the day hunting for him."

"She will probably want to know," observed Mordaunt.

"I shall say I never had him," said Noel unconcernedly. "He won't come to
any harm, but you can turn that secretary fellow of yours on to the job
if you're feeling anxious. I say, Trevor, we shan't want the chauffeur.
Tell them, will you?"

"You certainly won't go without him," Mordaunt rejoined. "And look here,
Noel, you're not to tell lies. Understand?"

Noel looked up with a flicker of temper in his Irish eyes, "Oh, rats!" he
said.

"Understand?" Mordaunt repeated. "It's the one thing I won't put up with,
so make up your mind to that."

He spoke quite temperately, but with unswerving decision. His eyes looked
hard into Noel's, and the boy's spark of resentment went out like an
extinguished match.

"I say, I like you!" he said with enthusiasm. "You're a regular sport!"

"Thank you," Mordaunt returned gravely.

"And what about Chris?" Noel proceeded mischievously. "Isn't she allowed
to tell lies, either?"

Mordaunt stiffened. "Chris knows better."

"Oh, does she?" Noel yelled derision. "My dear chap, you'll kill me! Why,
she--she's about the worst of us. I never knew anyone lie quite like
Chris when occasion arises."

He broke off. Mordaunt had shaken his arm free with an abruptness not far
removed from violence.

"That's enough," he said sternly. "I don't advise you to say any more
upon that subject."

"But I assure you it's the truth," Noel protested. "She can look you
straight in the face and swear that black is white till you actually
believe it. I assure you she can."

He spoke with such naive admiration of the achievement that Trevor
Mordaunt, on the verge of anger, found himself checked suddenly by an
irrepressible des