Considerably intrigued, Hugh docilely obeyed these instructions, and was discovered presently practising cannons. He straightened himself as Mary came in with Vicky at her heels, and after casting a look at two rather worried faces, said: "Is anything the matter? Can I help, or do I pretend to be unconscious?"
"Oh, it's nothing!" replied Mary unconvincingly. "At least, nothing of importance."
"Well, I think it's awfully important that no one should be allowed to spoil Ermyntrude's party," said Vicky. "You may think it's lousy anyway, and as a matter of fact it is, but the point is she doesn't, and I'm perfectly certain she'd hate and loathe a scene."
"For God's sake, Vicky, shut up!" implored Mary.
"Oh, don't make a stranger of me! Who's going to create a scene? The person of the name of Baker?" asked Hugh.
"Well, I'm not at all sure, but I shouldn't wonder if it seemed a pretty good sort of an act to him, on account of his being a Communist, and probably disapproving of parties," said Vicky. She looked measuringly at Hugh, and her eyes brightened. "Are you any good at chucking people out?" she demanded.
"I've never tried my hand at it. Do you want Baker chucked out?"
"I may," said Vicky cautiously. "But not if it would be a noisy business. Of course, I may be doing him a frightful injustice, or on the other hand, Wally may manage to get rid of him." A fresh idea presented itself to her. She turned to Mary. "I say, do you think he would be useful?
On account of being a barrister, I mean?"
"No, certainly not," said Mary. "Nor do I think we need discuss the matter."