“Thank you so much. These gentlemen can dine with Major Tibbet at the King’s, where we’ll hope that they’ll enjoy their meal.”
I took the arm which Mr Hammond offered, and the others came rushing to the front. Mr Carter, in particular, was most eloquent.
“Miss Norah, what have we done that you should desert us? You promised that you would be our guest—our co-guest.”
I put into my voice and words as much impertinence as I possibly could.
“I like your manners so little that I really cannot fancy you as one of my hosts, Mr Carter.”
“I only ventured to remind you that you had accepted——”
“No excuses, or explanations; I dislike both. If I consent to still suffer you near me, please understand that to-night I am above the law. My whims are to be paramount; my most transitory wish your chief desire. I may change my mind a hundred times; each time you’re at once to change yours too. Nor are you to so much as hint that I was ever in another mind. It does not follow because I tell Mr Hammond that I’ll dine with him at Dupont’s that I will—or that I’ll dine at all. In five minutes I may be in fifty moods. If you desire to question any one of them, please do not inflict your company on me. It is not the manner which I care for in a host of mine. Mr Hammond, at the present moment I am disposed to dine with you at Dupont’s. If these gentlemen choose, and know how to behave, it may be that they can dine there too.”
I went out of the room on Mr Hammond’s arm. The others came after us, with faces which were a little black. It was just possible that Major Tibbet was thinking of the bill which he would have to pay for the uneaten dinner at the King’s Restaurant. I have heard that for quite ordinary repasts their charges were enormous. Under the circumstances it could not have been pleasant for him to reflect that he had commanded them to do their very best.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE DINNER WHICH FAILED
It was rather a shock to discover that I was expected to travel with those five men in an omnibus. It was one of the private sort, and there were two men in livery; but it was an omnibus. I quite started when I got outside the front-door and saw it there.