Sir Fletcher Portwood.

Why, one has rather a feeling of constraint in sitting down to Allingham’s table—at any rate until matters are in a more settled state. [To Fraser.] You wouldn’t care to—to make the plunge?

Fraser.

Plunge——?

Sir Fletcher Portwood.

To break the ice?

Fraser.

Eat his lunch!

Sir Fletcher Portwood.

[Sitting on the settee and arranging his papers.] No, no; I can quite understand——