"Outrageous!" blazed the knight.
"Monstrous!" echoed the faithful Rake.
"What a rotten piece of cheek!" said Hal.
Mr. Smith wagged a fat forefinger.
"The lore is," he said, "that the question of lease is between Sir Harry and the tenant. No tenant's got a right to take the lore into his own hands. If there's a breach of contract the tenant may take action through the lore: if he won't pay his rent——"
"Smith," said Sir Harry impressively. "We will humiliate this fellow; we will show these foolish people of Brockley, who have no conception of true nobility, how this trickster may be treated."
"Governor," said Hal suddenly and excitedly, "why not show 'em the genuine article."
"Eh?"
"What about Tuppy? He's under an obligation to you? Why not bring him here. You've got an empty house—62, by jove! Next to the Duke's; the tenants left yesterday...."
"An excellent idea—a most worthy idea," said Sir Harry.