The proposed victim laughed.
"I didn't bargain for this," he declared. "Perhaps, after all, you had better go home, Jack, and do your thinking there, away from this young man and his brilliant ideas!"
"So even you can't deny it is a splendid solution of the difficulty!" declared Pallister gleefully.
Evidently Jack was of the same way of thinking. The sullen unhappy expression had entirely vanished from his features.
"Please do, Geoff," he said very earnestly; and this proved all-sufficient. His friend gave the required promise without further hesitation.
"But I must warn you," he went on, "that I am going away—out of England—very soon indeed. It may be several months before I can sit for you. Hadn't you better choose someone else, after all?"
But Jack was adamant.
"No indeed. But I can take a mask now, can't I? Then with its aid I can get well forward without you. You'll let me do it at once, won't you? Everything is ready."
"Well, I don't know, I can't stop long. I've got to get down to the City."
"But a mask is quite a short job. It can easily be finished before lunch."