"I congrrratulate——" he began stiffly, but at that very moment a clamour broke out above the music in the room they had left.
"Where is he?"
"Fetch him in——"
"Fancy bolting like that——" came the muffled cries.
The door was flung suddenly open as Brown, Ellerton, the Highlander, Sergeant Tronchet and the Master of the House burst suddenly into the lobby.
"Here he is!"
"Now, you rascal——"
"Dark horse, what?"
"Come in, you dog——"
"Ah, farceur! Félicita——"