“It’s a sporting offer,” said Audrey. “You can’t get away from that. And that’s the strongest card in a very strong hand, my friend. If I turn it down——” “‘If,’” cried Christopher John. “You don’t mean to say you’re even contemplating doing anything else?” “It’s been done before,” said Audrey. “Lady Godiva was a sport.” “Yes, but hers was a two-hour stunt. This is a lifer. You can’t chuck away your life so that half a dozen clowns can shove their rotten sheep on to Mesne Holms.” “They’re not rotten sheep,” said Audrey. “Besides, I mightn’t be chucking it away. I might get to like him very much. You never know. What sort of eyes has he got?” “Watery ones,” said Christopher. “Looks as if he drank.” Miss de Lisle frowned. “How old is he?” she demanded. “I believe he’s about thirty-five. He’s a proper waster, you know.” “He would like to hear his mediator, wouldn’t he?” “I never undertook to plead his cause.” “You’ve broken his bread,” said Audrey. “I wish I’d broken his neck,” growled Christopher John. Audrey threw back her head and fell into silvery laughter. Then she drew out a letter and put it into his hand. “I think I’ve teased you enough,” she said. _DEAR MR. PENDRAGON,_ _It is indeed plain that you and I are of different schools. I should not, for instance, have ‘pumped’ a gentleman who, had he dreamed of the use to which his information was to be put, would have seen you dead before he had opened his mouth._ _I refuse your offer because I do not think there is a poor man in Sundial who would not rather go hungry, with you for lord, than that I should pay so dear to become his lady._ _One thing more._ _Unless I hear from you by return of post that you will immediately—_ _(a) reinstate Mr. Warthog,_ _(b) throw open Mesne Holms,_ _(c) let me the Manor House for a term of seven years at a rent not exceeding twice that which a reputable firm of house-agents shall consider just,_ _I shall hand a copy of this correspondence to the local Press._ _Yours faithfully,_ _AUDREY DE LISLE._ “D’you think that’ll fix him?” said Audrey. “It’ll certainly shake him up,” said Christopher John. The Lord of the Manor replied with commendable dispatch. _DEAR MISS DE LISLE,_ _I beg that you will include a copy of this letter in the dossier which you hand to the Press._ _I shall not reinstate Warthog._ _I dismissed him because upon a belated investigation of his stewardship many things became apparent. Of these I will mention three only:—_ _(a) he has for three years robbed me right and left:_ _(b) the better to line his pockets, he has consistently represented me to be a harsh and unconscionable landlord, to whom money was a god:_