"Do you play golf?" asked the lady abruptly.
"No, I cannot say that I play," he stammered, "but my uncle does."
"That sounds exactly like a sentence from Ollendorf. 'I do not ride on horseback, but the sister of our neighbour does.' You really must take to golf!"
"Verona, child," screamed her aunt, "what are you loitering for? Come along, this sun is too hot for Dog Darling. We must be going. Captain Haig," turning to Malcolm, "your uncle has promised to bring you to dine with me to-night, at Ritter's. I have engaged a table—seven o'clock is the hour. So mind you are not late! Good-bye—good-bye—good-bye!"
As she made her adieux, madame—who was decidedly solid in figure—was respectfully hoisted into a smart victoria. Verona took a place beside her. Dog Darling nimbly accepted the front seat, and in another moment a pair of smart bay steppers had borne the trio out of sight.
CHAPTER III
"I flatter myself I managed that rather neatly," remarked the Baronet, as he surveyed his nephew with a complacent grin, "an introduction, a tête-à-têtes, and an invitation, all within half-an-hour."
"You could not have done more, sir, had you been a London chaperone of twenty seasons. I assure you I am duly grateful."
"And I tell you what, young man," resumed Sir Horace, now turning to pace beside him, "whilst you were laying siege to the young lady's heart, I was compelled to listen to a history of her aunt's liver affection, and an alarming account of the condition of her internal organs. Some old women have only three topics: disease, domestics, and diet. Besides these, Madame de Godez has a famous appetite—for compliments."
"Which I presume you were good enough to feed."