t should discourse of Langbury Court, of the Pool, and of
Agatha Merceron; but was it necessary that Victor Sutton should chime
in with the whole history of the canoe and Miss Bushell, or joke with
Mr. Merceron about his nephew's 'assignations'? The whole topic seemed
in bad taste, and she wondered that Mrs. Blunt did not discourage it.
But what horrible creatures men were! Did they really think it
impossible for a girl to like to talk to a man for an hour or so in the
evening without----?

"You must let me bring my nephew to meet Miss Glyn," said Uncle Van
graciously to his hostess. "She is so interested in the family history
that she and Charlie would get on like wildfire. He's mad about it."

"In fact," sniggered Victor (Miss Glyn always detested that man), "so
interested that, as you hear, he went to meet Agatha Merceron every
evening for a fortnight!"

"You'll be delighted to meet him, won't you, Agatha? We must arrange a
day," said Mrs. Blunt.

"Calder knows him," added Victor.

"He's an idle young dog," said Uncle Van, "but a nice fellow. A little
flighty and fanciful, as boys will be, but no harm in him. You mustn't
attach too much importance to our chaff about his meetings at the Pool,
Miss Glyn; we don't mean any harm."

Agatha tried to smile, but the attempt was not a brilliant success.
She stammered that she would be delighted to meet Mr. Charles Merceron,
swearing in her heart that she would sooner start for Tierra del Fuego.
But her confession to Mrs. Blunt would save her, if only these odious
men would go. They had had their coffee, and their liqueurs, and their
cigarettes. What more, in Heaven's name, could even a man want to
propitiate the god of his idolatry?

Apparently the guests themselves became aware that they were
trespassing, for Uncle Van, turning to his hostess with his blandest
smile, remarked, "I hope we're not staying too long. The fact is, my
dear Mrs. Blunt, you're always so kind that we took the liberty of
telling Calder Wentworth to call for us here. He ought to have come by
now."

Mrs. Blunt declared that she would be offended if they thought of going
before Calder came. Agatha rose in despair: the confession must be put
off. She held out her hand to her hostess. At this moment the door-bell
rang.

"That's him," said Victor.

"Sit down again for a minute, dear," urged Mrs. Blunt.

There was renewed hope for the confession. Agatha sat down. But hardly
had she done so befo