With a cry of rage Bobbie was about to spring at Alec when Dick got in his way.
'For God's sake, let us have no scenes here. And you'll only get the worst of it, Bobbie. Alec could just crumple you up.' He turned to the two men who stood behind, startled by the unexpectedness of the quarrel. 'Take him away, Mallins, there's a good chap.'
'Let me alone, you fool!' cried Bobbie.
'Come along, old man,' said Mallins, recovering himself.
When his two friends had got Bobbie out of the room, Dick heaved a great sigh of relief.
'Poor Lady Kelsey!' he laughed, beginning to see the humour of the situation. 'To-morrow half London will be saying that you and Bobbie had a stand-up fight in her drawing-room.'
Alec looked at him angrily. He was not a man of easy temper, and the effort he had put upon himself was beginning to tell.
'You really needn't have gone out of your way to infuriate the boy,' said Dick.
Alec wheeled round wrathfully.
'The damned cubs,' he said. 'I should like to break their silly necks.'