“Quite so. Never had one here, I suppose?”

“No, sir. We’re pretty well looked after in here.”

“Like one?” asked Deane.

“Beg pardon, sir. Ha-ha. No, sir.”

“Because I want one.”

“You—beg pardon, sir?”

“Look here, Painter. I’ll drop in here after dinner for some coffee. I want to talk to you. See? Not a word to the General.”

“Glad to see you, Sir Roger, but——”

“All right. I’ll put you up to it. Here they come. Present me to Madame.”

They went away, haying; arranged with the Painters for luncheon and a private room on the next day but one.