The motor drew up. Peter alighted and offered the driver a half-dollar piece, which the mulatto refused with a superb gesture worthy of a real Spanish grandee.
Before Peter had recovered from his rebuff, the double doors of the house were flung open by a pair of negro servants. Even as he was ascending the steps of the portico, Peter heard the clatter of heavy boots upon the tiled floor of the hall.
The next instant, his hand was grasped by his Uncle Brian.
"Glad you've got here, Peter!" he exclaimed. "Say, ever been up in an aeroplane? Ever flown at all?"
"No," replied his nephew, too taken aback with the unusual and eccentric greeting to reply except in a monosyllable.
"That's a pity," rejoined Uncle Brian, "a great pity. I wanted a chance to bring you down."
CHAPTER III
Uncle Brian
Brian Strong gave a deprecatory gesture.