"Ned! Ned. I never mentioned Ned. Who is Ned?"
"Shepworth. Edward Shepworth—Ned for short. We were great chums at Eton, you know. But you say that he isn't clever, then you insist that he is, and wind up by calling him a fool."
"You know quite well what I mean," said Lady Sophia with dignity.
"I really don't," confessed her nephew artlessly, "you describe such a complex character. However, as I have nothing to do to-day——"
"And never have anything to do—idler."
"I shall go to the New Bailey, and listen to Ned hanging his client!"
"So brilliant a barrister as Mr. Shepworth will certainly get her off," said Lady Sophia decisively.
Prelice passed over this new contradiction. "It's a woman?"
"Yes. Mona Chent. You know her."
"I'm sure I don't. The criminal classes don't attract me."