Innes bit his lip.

‘Captain Gordon said it,’ he replied.

‘Bobby Gordon! DO tell me what he said! I’m dying to know. Was he very disagreeable? I DID give his dance away on Thursday night.’

Innes looked at her with the curious distrust which she often inspired in him. He had a feeling that he would like to put her out of the room into a place by herself, and keep her there.

‘I won’t repeat what he said.’ Colonel Innes took up the ‘Saturday Review’.

‘Oh, do, Horace! I particularly want to know.’

Innes said nothing.

‘Horace! Was it—was it anything about Mr. Holmcroft being my Secretariat baa-lamb?’

‘If you adorn your guess with a little profanity,’ said Innes, acidly, ‘you won’t be far wrong.’

Mrs. Violet burst into a peal of laughter.