“It was the Douglases doing it,” broke in the Terror in an explanatory tone.
“I don’t think you ought to have given way to them, Sir James,” said Mrs. Dangerfield severely.
“But I hadn’t any choice, I assure you. They had me in a cleft stick,” protested Sir James.
“Well then you ought to have come straight to me,” said Mrs. Dangerfield.
“Oh, but really—a little fishing—what is a little fishing? I couldn’t come bothering you about a thing like that,” protested Sir James.
“But it isn’t a little thing if you get it like that,” said Mrs. Dangerfield. “Anyhow, it’s going to stop; and they’re going to apologize.”
She turned to them; and as if at a signal the Twins said with one voice:
“I apologize for blackmailing you, Sir James.”
The Terror spoke with an amiable nonchalance; the words came very stiffly from the lips of Erebus, and she wore a lowering air.
“Oh, not at all—not at all—don’t mention it. Besides, I owe you an apology for not answering your letter,” said Sir James in all the discomfort of a man receiving something that is not his due. Then he heaved a sigh of relief and added: “Well, that’s all right. And now I hope you’ll do all the fishing you want to.”