The sunniest optimist could not have deluded himself into the belief that the words were spoken in a friendly and genial spirit. Lord Wisbeach's fingers tightened on the door-handle, and he grew a little flushed about the cheek-bones. "What's all this about?" he said. "You infernal crook!" Lord Wisbeach looked anxious. "Don't shout like that! Are you crazy? Do you want people to hear?" Jimmy drew a deep breath. "I shall have to get further away from you," he said more quietly. "There's no knowing what may happen if I don't. I don't want to kill you. At least, I do, but I had better not." He retired slowly until brought to a halt by the writing-desk. To this he anchored himself with a firm grip. He was extremely anxious to do nothing rash, and the spectacle of Gentleman Jack invited rashness. He leaned against the desk, clutching its solidity with both hands. Lord Wisbeach held steadfastly to the door-handle. And in this tense fashion the interview proceeded. "Miss Chester," said Jimmy, forcing himself to speak calmly, "has just been telling me that she has promised to marry you." "Quite true," said Lord Wisbeach. "It will be announced to-morrow." A remark trembled on his lips, to the effect that he relied on Jimmy for a fish-slice, but prudence kept it unspoken. He was unable at present to understand Jimmy's emotion. Why Jimmy should object to his being engaged to Ann, he could not imagine. But it was plain that for some reason he had taken the thing to heart, and, dearly as he loved a bit of quiet fun, Lord Wisbeach decided that the other was at least six inches too tall and fifty pounds too heavy to be bantered in his present mood by one of his own physique. "Why not?" "It won't be announced to-morrow," said Jimmy. "Because by to-morrow you will be as far away from here as you can get, if you have any sense." "What do you mean?" "Just this. If you haven't left this house by breakfast time to-morrow, I shall expose you." Lord Wisbeach was not feeling particularly happy, but he laughed at this. "You!" "That's what I said." "Who do you think you are, to go about exposing people?" "I happen to be Mrs. Pett's nephew, Jimmy Crocker." Lord Wisbeach laughed again. "Is that the line you are going to take?" "It is." "You are going to Mrs. Pett to tell her that you are Jimmy Crocker and that I am a crook and that you only pretended to recognise me for reasons of your own?" "Just that." "Forget it!" Lord Wisbeach had forgotten to be alarmed in his amusement. He smiled broadly. "I'm not saying it's not good stuff to pull, but it's old stuff now. I'm sorry for you, but I thought of it before you did. I went to Mrs. Pett directly after lunch and sprang that line of talk myself. Do you think she'll believe you after that? I tell you I'm ace-high with that dame. You can't queer me with her." "I think I can. For the simple reason that I really am Jimmy Crocker." "Yes, you are." "Exactly. Yes, I am." Lord Wisbeach smiled tolerantly.