"I haled him forth. 'Look here,' said I. 'Pull yourself together. I find that we've, in our innocence, abducted this lady, who happened to be resting in the taxi when you jumped in.' "Farrell, making a mental effort, blinked hard. 'That accounts for it,' said he. 'Thought I felt something wrong when I sat down.' "'That being so,' I went on, 'you will agree that our first duty, as we are chivalrous men, is to restore her to her relatives.' "'B'all means,' he agreed heartily. 'R'shtore her. Why not?' "'As it happens, she has a sister living in Pimlico.' "'They all--' he began: but I was on the watch and fielded the ball smartly. "'And you, unless I'm mistaken,' said I, 'are a member of the National Liberal Club?' "'We all--' he began again, and checked himself to gaze on me with admiration. 'Shay that again,' he demanded. "'You are a member of the National Liberal Club?' I repeated. "'I am,' he owned; 'but I couldn' pr'nounce it just at this moment, not for a tenner. An' you've said it twice! Tha's what I call carryin' liquor like a gentleman: or else you've studied voice-producsh'n. Wish I'd studied voice-producsh'n, your age. Usheful, County Council.' "'County Council!' put in the lady sharply. 'Don't tell me!' "'He's but a candidate at present, ma'am,' I explained. "She eyed us both suspiciously. 'No kid, is it?' she asked. 'You ain't a dress-clothes detective? What? . . . Then, as between a lady and a gentleman, why haven't you introduced him? It's usual.' "'So it is, ma'am. Forgive me, this is Mr. Peter Farrell. Mr. Farrell, the--the--Lady Petunia.' "'And very delicately you done it, young man.' The Lady Petunia bowed amiably. 'This ain't no--this isn't--no time nor place for taking advantages and compromising.' She pitched her voice higher and addressed Farrell. 'I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, if I caught your name correctly. Mr. Farrell?--and of the National Liberal Club? The address is sufficient, sir. It carries its own recommendation--though I had hoped for the Constitutional.' "'It's still harder to pronounce, ma'am,' I assured her. 'That is my friend's only reason.' "'It was you that started my-ladying me,' she claimed. 'Why don't you keep it up? I like it.' "'My dear Lady Petunia,' said I, 'as you so well put it, the National Liberal Club carries its own recommendation. What's more, it's going to be the saving of us.' "'I don't see connecshun,' objected Farrell. 'They don't admit--'