"Oh, Lord!" said Jaffery. "But you must go somewhere." He turned to me with a groan. "Look here, old chap. It's awfully rough luck, but I must take her back to the Savoy and mount guard over her so that she doesn't break my poor sister's neck."
"I wouldn't go so far as that," said Liosha.
"How far would you go?" Adrian asked politely, with the air of one seeking information.
"Oh, shut up, you idiot," Jaffery turned on him savagely. "Can't you see the position I'm in?"
"I'm very sorry you're angry, Jaff Chayne," said Liosha with a certain kind dignity. "But these are your friends. Their house is yours. Why should I not stay here with you?"
"Here? Good God!" cried Jaffery.
"Yes, why not?" said Barbara, who had set out to teach this lady manners.
"The very thing," said I.
Jaffery declared the idea to be nonsense. Barbara and I protested, growing warmer in our protestations as the argument continued. Nothing would give us such unimaginable pleasure as to entertain Mrs. Prescott. Liosha laid her hand on Jaffery's arm.
"But why shouldn't they have me? When a stranger asks for hospitality in Albania he is invited to walk right in and own the place. Is it refused in England?"