Angela Hordern entered the little house full of a pleasurable anticipation. All was ready for them; fresh flowers bloomed everywhere; _The Observer_ and _The Referee_ lay on the table. She turned to Frank in a sudden surprise: “He meant to come here all the time?” “No, madam. But this is always kept ready by his Gra----,--by my master’s orders.” “He must be very rich!” “I am given to understand that the revenue has decreased slightly of late,” was Frank’s answer, given with admirable carelessness. “That’s all settled,” said the Duke, entering the room with a cheerful air. “I’m right, Frank, in supposing that Sir Gerald Standish is still in the Bahamas?” “Yes, your----” He caught the Duke’s eye, and dexterously ended: “Quite right, sir.” “Then this car will do admirably,” said the Duke. “You have no idea,” he continued to Angela, “how convenient it is to persuade two or three friends to allow one to register a car or two in their names, especially when they happen to be leaving the country. I don’t happen to be aware whether the practice is legal.” Frank brought in an omelette. “Pray be seated,” continued the Duke. “This particular car will take you home in forty-five minutes. Ferdinand has gone to bring it here--and a most trustworthy man to drive you.” “But--but what am I to do with them?” “The man will remove the number of the car, and himself return by train----” “There isn’t any train at this time of night--or rather at the time it will be by then.” “Oh yes, there’ll be a train--Ferdinand won’t forget that.” “You mean--a special?” “Really,” said the Duke, with the slightest air of being questioned enough, “they have so many different names for trains that I don’t encumber my memory with them. There will, however, be a train. As for the car---- What’s this, Frank?” “Alphonse offers his sincere apologies. But the design, at least, is novel. The way the truffles are arranged----” “Miss Hordern will excuse our shortcomings. Where is the champagne?” “On the ice, your----” “Yes, yes. As for the car, Miss Hordern, I venture to hope that you will accept it as a token of my regard--and a reminiscence of an evening which has turned out not, I hope, altogether unpleasantly?” “Oh, I couldn’t!” “You accepted the Chief Constable.” “But he--he’s very delightful,” Angela said, apparently eager to convince him of the soundness of her judgment. “So is the car,” said the Duke, tactfully avoiding the discussion. Angela swallowed her last morsel of truffle, and drank her last drain of champagne. The sound of a motor was heard in the lane outside. The Duke looked at his watch and sighed. She came up to him and stretched out her hand. “And so are you--very delightful,” she said. The Duke bent low and lightly kissed her hand. “How am I to think of you?” she asked.