The young man looked at him in surprise.
"I don't care much about them myself," said Reginald frankly, "but people down here like them better than sentimental ditties."
At this moment, Job Kossiter announced to the assembled company that it was time to close the bar, so in a few moments the room was empty of all save Nestley and his two companions. Dick asked him to have a glass of ale but he refused.
"I never drink," he said bluntly, "I'm teetotal."
They both opened their eyes at this, but were too polite to make any comments, so in order to relieve the awkwardness of the situation, Dr. Nestley began to speak.
"I suppose you've got some queer characters down here," he said, filling a fresh pipe of tobacco.
"Rather," said Dick, promptly, "old Garsworth for instance."
"Is that the squire you're talking of?" said a drawling voice at the door, and on looking towards it, the trio saw Mr. Basil Beaumont strolling into the room. Nestley grew a shade stiffer in his manner as his enemy came towards them, but Dick Pemberton turned his merry face to the new comer and nodded an answer.
"Do you know him?" he asked.
Beaumont took up his favourite position in front of the fire and smoked complacently.