"No," said Lord Ellerdine. "I had a bath, a shave, a change, and a brandy-and-soda."
Collingwood went up to the window and sat looking idly down into the Rue de Rivoli.
"Refreshing, but not very filling," he said. "Staying here?"
"No," Lord Ellerdine replied; "they would not let us in. It's race-week, you know. They are packed out. The place is full of big bookies and racing fellows. We had to go to the St. Denis. A nice fix you've got us all in, Collingwood!"
Collingwood turned away from the window.
"Fix? I've got you in? How do you mean?"
Lord Ellerdine struggled to find words in which to express his meaning.
"I'm blowed if I know—quite. Anyway, we're in it."
"I don't understand," Collingwood answered.
"Oh, come on!" replied Lord Ellerdine. "Chuck that business, Colling! I know your beastly way of putting a fellow off, but you can't leave me out of this."