"Oliver Laurence. Met you in '11 at old Dick Harris' place."
"Good old Dick," said Richard in the spirit of the scene. "But as I was about to remark, here we all are, gentlemen, and what happens next?"
Hugo Van Diest flickered his eyes at Auriole and asked in a soft guttural voice:
"You prevail—yes?"
Auriole shook her head.
"Mr. Barraclough refuses," she said.
Van Diest drew in his breath between shut teeth and Oliver Laurence sighed sadly.
"Refuse."
"'Fraid so," nodded Richard.
"You know vot is it dot we ask?"