They all three saw him simultaneously. Clodagh, to her own annoyance, coloured; and Barnard smiled in his observant, quizzical fashion.
"I didn't tell you that Gore was coming to see me this afternoon, Mrs. Milbanke," he said in an undertone. "I had a fancy that you might run away."
The flush on Clodagh's face deepened.
"Run away?" she exclaimed in angry haste.
But Barnard rose without replying, and went forward to meet his visitor.
Having greeted his host, Gore turned to Clodagh.
"How d'you do, Mrs. Milbanke?" he said, raising his hat. Then he looked interrogatively at Milbanke.
Barnard made a sweeping gesture.
"My old friend Mr. James Milbanke!" he said. "James, Sir Walter Gore!"
Milbanke looked up quickly; and the younger man held out his hand with a pleasant touch of cordiality.