"Have no more to do with him than you can help, Wolfenden," she said, leaning a little over to him, and speaking in a half-fearful whisper. "I think his face is awful." Wolfenden laughed. "I am not likely to see a great deal of him," he declared. "In fact I can't say that he seems very cordially disposed towards me, considering that I saved him from rather a nasty accident. By the bye, he said something about having met the Admiral at Alexandria. You have never come across him, I suppose?" The sun was warm and the wind had dropped, or Wolfenden could almost have declared that his mother's teeth were chattering. Her eyes were fixed again in a rigid stare which passed him by and travelled beyond. He looked over his shoulder. Mr. Sabin, apparently tired of practising, was standing directly facing them, leaning upon his putter. He was looking steadfastly at Lady Deringham, not in the least rudely, but with a faint show of curiosity and a smile which in no way improved his appearance slightly parting his lips. Meeting his gaze, Wolfenden looked away with an odd feeling of uneasiness. "You are right," he said. "His face is really a handsome one in a way, but he certainly is not prepossessing-looking!" Lady Deringham had recovered herself. She leaned back amongst the cushions. "Didn't you ask me," she said, "whether I had ever met the man? I cannot remember--certainly I was at Alexandria with your father, so perhaps I did. You will be home to dinner?" He nodded. "Of course. How is the Admiral to-day?" "Remarkably well. He asked for you just before I came out." "I shall see him at dinner," Wolfenden said "Perhaps he will let me smoke a cigar with him afterwards." He stood away from the carriage and lifted his cap with a smile. The coachman touched his horses and the barouche rolled on. Wolfenden walked slowly back to his companion. "You will excuse my leaving you," he said. "I was afraid that my mother might have been looking for me." "By all means," Mr. Sabin answered. "I hope that you did not hurry on my account. I am trying," he added, "to recollect if ever I met Lady Deringham. At my time of life one's reminiscences become so chaotic." He looked keenly at Wolfenden, who answered him after a moment's hesitation. "Lady Deringham was at Alexandria with my father, so it is just possible," he said. CHAPTER XXI HARCUTT'S INSPIRATION