"Well, mum," said Eliza Pollard, "he's a short gentleman with a red face and two boys, and he seems very angry."
"Ask him what he wants to see me about," said Mrs. Avory.
"I did," said Eliza Pollard, "and he said he could not tell me, but the matter was of the highest importance."
Mrs. Avory took the card and descended to the drawing-room, where the visitors were waiting for her.
Mr. Amory bowed. "Pardon me, madam," he said, "but I have come to know what you have done with my caravan."
"Your caravan!"
"Yes, madam, my caravan. A caravan was sent as a present to my sons some three weeks or a month ago, and your family, I am creditably informed, seized and detained it."
"Excuse me," said Mrs. Avory, "but we did nothing of the sort. A caravan was sent here for my children as a present, and we have simply made use of it. They have been away in it for a fortnight. It returns to-day!"
"Ha!" said Mr. Amory. "Perhaps you will have the goodness to inform me who gave it to you?"
"That," said Mrs. Avory, "I can't do—"