felt happier now that he had pricked the egregious fellow's vanity.

"Silly of 'em to say that," said Lord Jasper. "Boltt sells a tremendous
number of books, don't you, Boltt? More than Lensley does. And that
shows, doesn't it? If a chap can sell as many books as Boltt sells ...
well, he must be some good. I've never read any of 'em, of course, but
then I'm not a chap that reads much. All the same, a chap I know says
Boltt's all right, and he's a chap that knows what he's talking about. I
mean to say, he's written books himself!"

Lady Cecily was no longer interested in the history of Mr. Boltt's
novel. The meal was almost at an end, and Gilbert had not arrived. She
glanced towards the door, looking straight over Mr. Lensley's head, and
Henry could see that she was fidgeting.

"Gilbert's a long time," he said to her.

She did not answer, and before he could repeat his remark to her, Lord
Jasper exclaimed, "I say, you know, we ought to be getting home, Cecily.
It's getting jolly late!..."

"Let's wait a little longer," she said, "Gilbert hasn't come yet!"

"But I mean to say, this place'll be closing soon...." Mr. Boltt made a
satirical remark on the ridiculously early hours at which restaurants
are compelled by law to close in England. In France, he said ... but
Lord Jasper did not wait to hear what is done in France.

"He won't come now," he said. "He wouldn't have time to eat any supper
if he were to come ... and it's getting jolly late, and I'm jolly
tired!"

He got up from the table as he spoke. "Very well," said Lady Cecily,
rising too.

The others followed her example, and Boltt and Lensley prepared to
escort Lady Cecily to the door, but she gave her hand to them and said
"Good-night!"

"It's so nice to have seen you both," she said. "No, don't trouble. Mr.
Quinn will come with me!"

Lord Jasper had gone on in front to find his car, and Lady Cecily and
Henry walked down the room together until they came to the courtyard
where the car was waiting for them.

"Tell Gilbert I'm angry with him," she said. "He must come and see me
soon and tell me how sorry he is. You'll come, too, perhaps, Mr. Quinn!"

He found his tongue suddenly. "I will, Lady Cecily," he said. "I'll come
even if he doesn't. I've enjoyed to-night tremendously...."

"Have you, Mr. Quinn?"

"Yes...."

"I say, come along," Lord Jasper shouted to them.

"Poor Jimphy's getting fractious. You can tell me how much you've
enjoyed to-nig