“Vosper,” he said, “the more I hear of that Duke of yours, the more I seem to like him. You really think he would have drawn the line at Mrs. Maplebury?” “Very firmly, sir.” “Splendid fellow! Splendid fellow! She shall go to-morrow, Vosper.” “Thank you very much, sir.” “And, Vosper.” “Sir?” “Your salary. It is quadrupled.” “I am greatly obliged, sir.” “Tra-la, Vosper!” “Tra-la, sir. Will that be all?” “That will be all. Tra-la!” “Tra-la, sir,” said the butler. CHAPTER IV CHESTER FORGETS HIMSELF The afternoon was warm and heavy. Butterflies loafed languidly in the sunshine, birds panted in the shady recesses of the trees. The Oldest Member, snug in his favourite chair, had long since succumbed to the drowsy influence of the weather. His eyes were closed, his chin sunk upon his breast. The pipe which he had been smoking lay beside him on the turf, and ever and anon there proceeded from him a muffled snore. Suddenly the stillness was broken. There was a sharp, cracking sound as of splitting wood. The Oldest Member sat up, blinking. As soon as his eyes had become accustomed to the glare, he perceived that a foursome had holed out on the ninth and was disintegrating. Two of the players were moving with quick, purposeful steps in the direction of the side door which gave entrance to the bar; a third was making for the road that led to the village, bearing himself as one in profound dejection; the fourth came on to the terrace. “Finished?” said the Oldest Member. The other stopped, wiping a heated brow. He lowered himself into the adjoining chair and stretched his legs out. “Yes. We started at the tenth. Golly, I’m tired. No joke playing in this weather.” “How did you come out?” “We won on the last green. Jimmy Fothergill and I were playing the vicar and Rupert Blake.” “What was that sharp, cracking sound I heard?” asked the Oldest Member. “That was the vicar smashing his putter. Poor old chap, he had rotten luck all the way round, and it didn’t seem to make it any better for him that he wasn’t able to relieve his feelings in the ordinary way.” “I suspected some such thing,” said the Oldest Member, “from the look of his back as he was leaving the green. His walk was the walk of an overwrought soul.” His companion did not reply. He was breathing deeply and regularly.