Ware rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "We might suggest it to them both together," he said.
"How, for instance?"
"Why … just intimate casually that … that … that … we would … you know."
"No," said Aymer, "I do not."
Ware pondered a space. "We might put them in the wrong boats—by accident, of course."
"And have them get out the instant we get in."
"Then it passes me," said the Earl. "I have supplied the idea; it is for you to execute it."
De Lacy shook his head. "It is too deep for me; had I a week I might contrive a plan."
"I presume we will go back as we came," the other commented. "Marry, what a brave pair we are!"
As they reached the landing, their barges, that lay a little way down stream, swung around and came quickly up to the gate. The Earl's entered first, and as he was about to proffer his hand to the Countess to aid her to embark, the Lady Mary stepped quickly into the boat, and giving him a smile of bewitching invitation sank languidly among the cushions. For an instant he was taken aback; but, with a sharp glance at De Lacy, he sprang aboard, and the oars caught the water.