"And it's horribly selfish," put in Olga.
"My dear child, don't be so frightfully moral!" protested Violet. "I can't rise to it. Nick, why doesn't it always answer to take what one wants?"
"Because one doesn't always succeed in keeping it," said Nick.
"He means," said Max, a spark of humour in his eyes, "that a champion,—no, a chaperon—sometimes comes along to the rescue of the stolen article. But—from what I've seen of life—I scarcely think the odds would be on the side of the chaperon. What is your opinion, Miss Campion?"
"If the chaperon were Nick, I should certainly put my money on him," she answered lightly.
"And lose it!" said Max.
"And win it!" said Olga.
"Order! Order!" commanded Nick. "Once more I refuse to be the bone of contention between you. You will tear me to shreds among you, and even the great Dr. Wyndham might find some difficulty in putting me together again. Olga, give us some music!"
"I can't, dear," said Olga.
He frowned at her. "Why not?"