"That's good. Carry on—yes, certainly, take Flirt with you. And good luck!"
* * * * *
"So that dog's turned up again," observed Mr. Fordyce, senior, when a taxi deposited Noel, Flirt, and a portmanteau outside the Sub's paternal home, and informal but warm greetings had been exchanged. "I thought she was lost."
"I took her for a cruise for the benefit of her health, Pater," said his irrepressible offspring.
"Benefit of her health indeed," re-echoed Mr. Fordyce. "And, pray, is she better for the change? I was under the impression that she was far too high spirited before. I hope to goodness, Noel, that there will be no repetition of the Councillor Mindiggle business."
"I'll answer for that, Pater," replied the Sub. "She won't nip him again."
"You seem jolly sure of it," rejoined Mr. Fordyce. "If she does she'll have to be des——"
A dinner gong sounded, and Noel linked arms with his somewhat biased parent and led him into the dining-room.
"I'm awfully peckish, Pater," he remarked.
"Then set to," suggested Mr. Fordyce. "Well, what have you been doing with yourself?"