"You don't want the thousand pounds immediately, my lady?" said Mr. Boyd.
"My good man, I want it now, this minute."
"Impossible, my lady. I could not get it together in less than five or six days. If that will suit you----"
Lady Wharton beat an impatient tattoo on the table with the tips of her fingers. "Are you sure you could not get it earlier?"
"Quite sure, my lady."
"It must suit me, then, but it is really very provoking. Lord Wharton is ordered into the country, and we are going to-morrow."
"I can send you a cheque through the post."
"I should prefer to receive it personally from you, and in bank notes. You can bring it to me in the country, I suppose?"
"There will be no difficulty, my lady. To what part of the country?"
"We are going to our place in Bournemouth, The Gables. We give a ball there every year on the 7th of March. Of course I may rely upon having the money before that date."