“I lunched in South Street. What has happened?”
“Painful affair,” said Sir Roland. “Best say nothing, ma’am.”
“Oh, Edward is perfectly safe! Why, he’s my brother-in-law. P-Pel, don’t you think perhaps Edward could help us?”
“No, I don’t,” said the Viscount bluntly. “We don’t want any help. I’ll get the brooch back for you.”
Horatia clasped Captain Heron’s arm. “Edward, p-please tell Pelham he m-mustn’t fight Lord L-Lethbridge! It would be fatal!”
“Fight Lord Lethbridge?” repeated Captain Heron. “It sounds a most unwise thing to do. Why should he?”
“We can’t explain all that now,” said the Viscount. “Who said I was going to fight him?”
“You d-did! You said he w-wasn’t a better shot than you are.”
“Well, he ain’t. All I’ve got to do is to put a pistol to the fellow’s head, and tell him to hand over the brooch.”
Horatia released Captain Heron’s arm. “I m-must say, that is a very clever plan, P-Pel!” she approved.