Sir Henry's irritation was fast merging into anger.

“I shall turn the fellow out of the house,” he declared.

Philippa shrugged her shoulders.

“Why don't you?”

He seated himself on the couch by his wife's side. “Look here, Philippa, don't let's wrangle,” he begged. “I'm afraid you'll have to make up your mind to see a good deal less of your friend Lessingham, anyway.”

Philippa's brows were knitted. She was conscious of a vague uneasiness.

“Really? And why?”

“For one thing,” her husband explained, “because I don't intend to have him hanging about my house during my absence.”

“The best way to prevent that would be not to go away,” Philippa suggested.

“Well, in all probability,” he announced guardedly, “I am not going away again—at least not just yet.”