d in a bellicose
voice.

"I don't think so; anyway, so long as you don't rule out my suggestion.
Still, I'm willing to leave Gladwyne to decide the point. He seems to
understand these delicate matters."

Marple, looking distressed and irresolute, broke in before Gladwyne had a
chance to reply.

"Do you know much about mining, Lisle?"

Lisle laughed.

"I've had opportunities for learning something, as prospector, locator of
alluvial claims and holder of an interest in one or two comparatively
prosperous companies."

He leaned forward and touched Crestwick's shoulder.

"Come along, Jim, and I'll give you one or two particulars that should
decide you."

Somewhat to his astonishment, the lad rose and rather sheepishly followed
him. There was an awkward silence for a few moments after they left the
room; then Marple turned to his guests.

"I can't undertake to say whether Lisle was justified or not," he began.
"I'm sorry, however, that anything of this nature should have happened in
my house."

"So am I," said Gladwyne with gracious condescension. "There is, of
course, one obvious remedy."

Marple raised his hands in expostulation. He liked Lisle, and Gladwyne
was a distinguished guest. Batley seemed to find his confusion amusing.

"I think the only thing we can do is to let the matter drop," he
suggested. "These fellows from the wilds are primitive--one can't expect
too much. The correct feeling or delicacy of expression we'd look for
among ourselves is hardly in their line."

Marple was mollified, and he fell in with Batley's suggestion that they
should try a game.

In the meanwhile, Crestwick looked around at his companion as they went
down the corridor.

"I believe I owe you some thanks," he admitted. "I like the way you
headed off Batley--I think he meant to turn savage at first--and I
wouldn't have been willing to draw in Gladwyne, as you did. He has a way
of crushing you with a look."

"It's merely a sign that you deserve it," Lisle laughed. "You take too
many things for granted in this country. Test another man's assumption of
superiority before you agree with it, and you'll sometimes be astonished
to find out what it's really founded on. And now we'd better join those
people who're singing."

CHAPTER XV

BELLA'S DEFEAT

The afternoon was calm and hazy, and Lisle lounged with great content in
a basket-chair on Millicent's lawn. His hostess sat near by, looking
listless, a somewhat