Spalding acknowledged the compliment with another grave bow, and picking up the current copy of the Auto Car, which contained a description of the last Brooklands meeting, Tony sauntered out again on to the lawn.
Here he established himself comfortably in a basket-chair, and after lighting a pipe, opened the paper at the article in question. It was enriched with several complimentary references to himself and his driving, and Tony, who liked to hear agreeable sentiments expressed about any one that he was fond of, read it through with appreciative interest. He had just finished, and was lying back in the sunshine in a pleasant state of contentment with the Universe, when the French window opened and Spalding came down on to the lawn, carrying a small silver salver, containing a couple of visiting cards. He advanced to where Tony was sitting.
"Two gentlemen have called, sir, and would like to see you."
Tony took out his pipe and shook off the ash on to the grass.
"What are their names, Spalding?" he inquired.
The butler glanced at the cards as if to refresh his memory.
"They are two foreign gentlemen, Sir Antony. The Marquis da Freitas, and the Count de Sé."
CHAPTER XIII
A MOVE BY THE ENEMY
There was a moment's pause, and then in a leisurely fashion Tony knocked the remaining tobacco out of his pipe, and put it away in his pocket.