"All right! A good way of getting it in shape for to-morrow. You'll drive out to Greenwich, won't you?"
Franklin looked up quickly from the plate which had been occupying his close attention. "Greenwich? Why Greenwich?"
Fraser grinned again. He seemed to find a lot of grim amusement in Franklin. "You read me a telegram that you sent off from the yacht accepting Mrs. Vanderdyke's invitation for the Pastoral house-party."
"Oh, my God, yes!"
"But perhaps you'll have to undergo a slight operation or sit by the bedside of a sick relative, or something."
"No; I shall go. I promised Ida Larpent I'd meet her there."
"Oh!" said Fraser, dryly. "I see." He hoped to draw further details.
But Franklin let it go. There were so many far more vital things to talk about than women.
"By Jove!" said Fraser, going off at a tangent. "I envy you this house-party. You'll be able to talk to Beatrix."
"Well, that won't worry me much." Franklin had passed from sausages to Virginia ham and was still going strong.