"I'm late, I know," explained Mr. Triggs as he shook hands. "I 'ad to run in and see 'Ettie and tell 'er I was coming. It surprised 'er," and Mr. Triggs chuckled as if at some joke he could not share with the others. "Now let us have tea," said Lady Tanagra. "I'm simply dying for it." Mr. Triggs sank down heavily into a basket chair. He looked about anxiously, as it creaked beneath his weight, as if in doubt whether or no it would bear him. "All we want now is----" Mr. Triggs stopped suddenly and looked apprehensively at Lady Tanagra. "What is it you want, Mr. Triggs?" enquired Patricia quickly. "Er--er--I--I forget, I--I forget," floundered Mr. Triggs, still looking anxiously at Lady Tanagra. "When you're in the company of women, Mr. Triggs, you should never appear to want anything else. It makes an unfavourable impression upon us." "God bless my soul, I don't!" cried Mr. Triggs earnestly. "I've been looking forward to this ever since I got your wire yesterday afternoon." "Now he has given me away," cried Lady Tanagra. "How like a man!" "Given you away, me dear!" cried Mr. Triggs anxiously. "What 'ave I done?" "Why, you have told these two people here that made an assignation with you by telegram." "Made a what, me dear?" enquired Mr. Triggs, his forehead corrugated with anxiety. "Lady Tanagra is taking a mean advantage of the heat, Mr. Triggs," said Elton. "Anyway, I'll forgive you anything, Mr. Triggs, as you have come," said Lady Tanagra. Mr. Triggs's brow cleared and he smiled. "Come! I should think I would come," he said. Lady Tanagra then explained her meeting with Mr. Triggs and how he had striven to avoid her company at luncheon on the previous day. Mr. Triggs protested vigorously. During the tea the conversation was entirely in the hands of Lady Tanagra, Elton and Mr. Triggs. Patricia sat silently listening to the others. Several times Lady Tanagra and Mr. Triggs exchanged meaning glances. "Why ain't you talking, me dear?" Mr. Triggs once asked. "I like to hear you all," said Patricia, smiling across at him. "You're all too clever for me," she added. "Me clever!" cried Mr. Triggs, and then as if the humour of the thing had suddenly struck him he went off into gurgles of laughter. "You ought to tell 'Ettie that," he spluttered. "She thinks 'er old father's a fool. Me clever!" he repeated, and again he went off into ripples of mirth. "What are your views on love, Mr. Triggs?" demanded Lady Tanagra suddenly. Mr. Triggs gazed at her in surprise. Then he looked from Patricia to Elton, as if not quite sure whether or no he were expected to be serious. "If I were you I should decline to reply. Lady Tanagra treats serious subjects flippantly," said Elton. "Her attitude towards life is to prepare a pancake as if it were a soufflé." "That proves the Celt in me," cried Lady Tanagra. "If I were English I should make a soufflé as if it were a pancake."