Mr. Welwyn concluded this explanation with a rather helpless gesture. It was an awkward and difficult moment. With all his faults he was a man of feeling, with a gentleman's inherent distaste for anything savouring of sharp practice; and he knew that the boy before him felt the situation as acutely as himself. There are few sadder sights than that of an old man eating humble pie to a young man.
But Dicky, The Freak, was equal to the occasion. He answered gravely:--
"The point of view which I prefer to take, Mr. Welwyn, is this--that you were all trying to do a good turn to Tilly."
"Thank you, Dick," said Mr. Welwyn simply. "Still, there was a second reason which I thought might perhaps keep you away."
"What was that?"
"Well--the presence in one's abode of a sheriff's officer is apt to exercise a dispersive influence upon one's calling acquaintance."
"On this occasion, however," replied Dicky serenely, "you will find that a calling acquaintance has dispersed the sheriff's officer."
Mr. Welwyn, who had been perambulating the room, stopped dead.
"You don't mean to tell me," he exclaimed, "that the fellow is gone?"
Dicky nodded. "Five minutes ago," he said.