“Nina certainly thinks that it’s other women’s. Oh, must you go? Awfully kind of you to have come. And, I say, think about Villa San Carlo! I believe it’s a jolly place, and Nina’s having it fitted up something gorgeous, she tells me.” “Isn’t it rather difficult to get the work done just now?” I asked. “Oh, no, not particularly. You see, we’ve an interest in——” “Damn it all!” I cried, “have you Frosts interests in everything?” Godfrey’s good humor was imperturbable. He nodded at me, smiling. “I suppose it must strike people like that sometimes. We do bob up rather, don’t we? Sorry I mentioned it, old fellow. Only you see—it does account for Nina’s being able to get the furniture for Villa San Carlo, and consequently for her being in a position to entertain you and me there in the way to which we are accustomed—in my case, recently!” “Your apology is accepted, Godfrey—if I go there! And I don’t seriously object to you Frosts straddling the earth if you want to. Only I think you might leave us Cragsfoot.” “I wouldn’t get in your way for a minute, my dear chap—really I wouldn’t. We might live there together, perhaps. That’s an idea!” he laughed. “With the wife of a meek and quiet spirit to look after us!” “Yes. But I’ve got to find her first.” “Sir Paget is very well, thank you. There’s no hurry.” “But there’s never any harm in looking about.” He came with me to the door, and bade me a merry farewell. “You’ll get your invitation in a few days. Mind you come. Perhaps we’ll find her on the Riviera! It’s full of ladies of all sorts of spirits, isn’t it? Mind you come, Julius.” My little fit of irritation over what he represented was not proof against his own cordiality and good temper. I parted from him in a very friendly mood. And, sure enough, in a few days I did get my invitation to the Villa San Carlo at Mentone. “If you’ve any difficulty about the journey,” wrote Nina, “let us know, because we can pull a wire or two, I expect.” “Pull a wire or two!” I believe they control the cords that hold the firmament of heaven in its place above the earth! Besides—so another current of my thoughts ran—if wires had to be pulled, could not Ezekiel Coldston & Co., Ltd., pull them for themselves? Did the Frosts engross the earth? I had no intention of letting Nina Dundrannan graciously provide me with “facilities”; that is the term which we used to employ in H. M.’s Government service. CHAPTER XII A SECRET VISIT