The girl's eyes glistened. She knew very well that the possession of that card meant that for the next few days she would be the envy of every one of her acquaintances.
“Thank you, Sir Timothy,” she replied eagerly. “You have quite misunderstood me but I should like to come to your party.”
Sir Timothy handed over the cards. He rang for a servant and bowed the others out. Francis he detained for a moment.
“Our little duel, my friend, marches,” he said. “After Thursday night we will speak again of this matter concerning Margaret. You will know then what you have to face.”
Margaret herself opened the door and looked in.
“What have those people been doing here?” she asked. “What is happening?”
Her father unlocked his drawer once more and drew out another of the red cards.
“Margaret,” he said, “Ledsam here has accepted my invitation for Thursday night. You have never, up till now, honoured me, nor have I ever asked you. I suggest that for the first part of the entertainment, you give me the pleasure of your company.”
“For the first part?”
“For the first part only,” he repeated, as he wrote her name upon the card.