en I was on at
Donard kidnapping that idiot Simpkins, and carrying him off from the
middle of a tennis tournament. It ought to have been perfectly obvious
that I couldn't have brought the Major here. Even you, with your
extraordinary faculty for making mistakes about perfectly simple
things, must be able to see that."

"If you didn't bring him," said the judge, "I suppose he came by
himself. Very likely he fell into the same mistake that my niece and I
did. He may have thought you wanted him to marry her."

"He can't possibly have thought anything of the sort. I've told him
all along--in fact, it was really his plan."

"That Simpkins should marry my niece?"

"Yes. We've talked it over a dozen times at least."

"Of the two," said the judge, "I'd rather have the Major for a nephew.
I scarcely know him, and I don't know Simpkins at all; but judging
simply by appearances, I should say that the Major is the better man."

"He is, decidedly. Simpkins is in every way his inferior. The fact
is--I don't want to say anything to hurt your feelings."

"Don't mind my feelings. They're accustomed to laceration."

"Well, I think the Major is too good a man to--"

"You can't expect me to agree with you there," said the judge. "But I
appreciate your point of view, and I respect your feeling of affection
for your friend."

"There's no use beating about the bush in this way," said Meldon. "If
you think I'm going to remain passively indifferent while my
unfortunate friend allows himself to be entrapped by a woman like Mrs.
Lorimer--"

"Good Heavens!" said the judge. "Mrs. Lorimer! What on earth has Mrs.
Lorimer--?"

"There's no use your pretending to be ignorant of the facts," said
Meldon. "You must know them."

He wrenched his arm from the judge's grip as he spoke, and started at a
rapid pace towards the lawn. Sir Gilbert Hawkesby hesitated for a
moment with a look of bewilderment on his face. Then he ran after
Meldon, and caught him by the arm again.

"Hold on a minute," he said. "Something has just occurred to me.
Before you do anything rash let me tell you a little story."

"I can't wait," said Meldon. "Every moment increases the Major's
danger. Further endearments--"

"We needn't be afraid of that," said the judge, "while Simpkins is
there, and I really do want to tell you my story. It may, I think it
will, alter your whole view of the situation."

"I'll give you two minutes," said Meldon, taki