," I said shortly.
"Among other maladies you suffer from irritation of the palm. Yes?"

He stared at me.

"Don't know about the palm in particular," he said, after a while, "but
being so much with the 'orses it do tend to--"

"That'll do," I said hurriedly. "Lo, here is a crown, by the vulgar
erroneously denominated a 'dollar'. Take it, and drink the lady's
health before you go to bed."

He took the coins greedily, and touched his hat. Then he partially
undressed, in the traditional fashion, and put them away, apparently in
a wallet next to his skin.

I turned to the girl.

"We'll go in, shall we?" I said. "They'll give us some food, even if
they do want to paint us. And we can ring up your people. I expect
they'll be getting anxious."

"Oh, no. This morning they went up to town for the day, and they've
only just about got back. And, as I was dining out, they won't expect
me for another half-hour. But I think--"

"Dining out, lass? Good heavens, I'm afraid you'll have missed the
soup, won't you?"

"I thought they'd given up dinner in the best circles."

"Ah, yes. Of course. But what about the auction halma?"

"That's what's worrying me. And so I was going to say if you'll be
good enough to tell me where I am, I'll make my way home to where I'm
staying."

Before I could reply, a voice that I recognized came through the
drawing--room window.

"Ah, how do you do, Mrs. Fletcher. Sorry we've taken to up so much of
your husband's time. But he's done us proud. I had fourteen. Just
cast your eye--your critical eye--over this arm and take your pick.
How do you like them? Penny plain, twopence coloured. Walk up. Damn.
I beg your pardon. Has the ambulance arrived?"

The voice was the voice of Berry.

"The cab's here," said another voice. "I can see the horse's nose."

I suddenly realized that Jonah had got the car and was just wondering
what was the matter with our own brougham, when:

"That's Daphne," said my companion. "Was it Berry who spoke first?"

I stared at her.

"Was it, lad?" she repeated.

"Yes, witch, it was. But how on earth?"

"I admit I'm only your second cousin and haven't seen Daphne for
eighteen months, still, after being at school in France together for
two years, we ought to have some dim recollection of each other's
tones."

"Why," I said, "you're cousin Madrigal, who bit me on the nose, aged
four, under the nursery table. Are you sorry, now?"

"I did it