Accordingly, they both set out, a little before one o'clock, in Ermyntrude's ponderous car, and were driven rather grandly to the appointed rendezvous. Here the men soon joined them, and Ermyntrude's bitter thoughts were a little distracted by the discovery that the morning's sport had been enlivened by a slight mishap.
"In fact, Trudinka, almost we have added our good host's hat to the bag!" the Prince said, with a gaiety that failed to lighten the scowl on Steel's brow, or the look of long-suffering on Wally's face.
"Yes, you can laugh," Wally said. "Very funny for you, I've no doubt. Ha-ha!"
"But what happened?" asked Mary,
Hugh, to whom her question seemed to be principally addressed, smiled, and shook his head. "Not guilty!"
"Don't be so absurd! There hasn't been an accident, has there?"
"Of course there hasn't been an accident!" said Steel testily.
"Oh no, of course there hasn't!" said Wally. "I've only had a couple of barrels fired at me."
"If a man's fool enough to move from his stand, he's asking to be shot!" said Steel.
"Yes, that's what you say, and I've no doubt you'll go saying it however many times I tell you I didn't do anything."