Madame de Vaudrey clasped her hands and looked indecisively at the new-comer, as though doubting the propriety of accepting the intervention of a stranger. Harry was on the point of explaining who he was, when the matter was settled in an unexpected way. The girl moved to her mother’s side and took her by the hand. Then, turning to Harry, she said in clear, cold tones: "If Monsieur will rid the house of these two men he will do my mother a great service. Come, Mamma!" And then, without another glance at any of the three, she led Madame de Vaudrey, still half-resisting, from the room. The colour had been gradually returning to Aglionby’s face, and when the ladies had disappeared his purple hue was deeper than ever. But the surprise of Harry’s presence was so great that for the moment the doughty captain was nonplussed; his anger was at boiling-point, but he was clearly at a loss what course to take. His companion stood expectant, a slight smile still on his face—a smile rendered peculiarly disagreeable by a twitching of the mouth that drew one corner perceptibly upwards towards the left ear. The interval of silence seemed longer than it really was. "I am sure, gentlemen," said Harry with great urbanity, "you will see the propriety of at once relieving Madame de Vaudrey of your presence." Then the storm broke. Glaring with rage, unable to stand still, stuttering in his speech, Aglionby roared: "You insolent puppy, you low-born cully, you—how dare you speak to me! What are you doing here? Stap me, I’ll run you through the midriff and rid the world of a bit of vermin!" "I shall be delighted to give you an opportunity—outside," said Harry quietly. "Meanwhile, the door is open, and by making your exit you will please not Madame de Vaudrey only, but me and, it appears, yourself."