Do you know, had the retort not been so cheaply obvious, one would have been strongly tempted to ask whether he could really spare it... So characteristic of Spenworth! I am not a woman to bear malice, but I could not forget that _very_ few days had passed since he played me a trick which to that type of mind, no doubt, seems funny, but which _might_ have involved me in _embarrassment_ and _humiliation_. It was one night when the princess was with me; Spenworth had been presiding over some regimental dinner and he thought it would be an amusing hoax to send all these young officers--with partners whom they had apparently picked up one really dares not contemplate _where_--on the pretext that I was giving a dance and would be delighted to see them. Dear Hilary Butler's presence of mind _alone_ saved the situation. I detest practical joking and, when my brother-in-law was announced, I confess that I expected less to be lectured than to receive some little expression of regret... _Hoped_ rather than _expected_... You are quite right. "I must beg for enlightenment," I said. "Well, what's that scamp of a boy of yours been up to?," he asked. "I will _not_ permit such language about my son!," I cried. "Too late now. You should have brought him up better," he said. This from Spenworth, whose life has been one dark, unbroken record of debauchery, unfaithfulness ... not a tenth part known owing to his cleverness in hushing up scandals, impoverishing that glorious estate to buy the silence of those who held awkward secrets. Indeed I know what I am talking about. When he wanted poor Kathleen to divorce him, he gave her the run of Cheniston; heirlooms apart, she might take anything "to feather her new nest", as he elegantly put it. And this in a house which will come to Arthur and Will if anything happens to that sickly baby... There was a _marvellous_ story going the rounds a few months ago that I had tried to entangle Kathleen with the King's Proctor or the President of the Divorce Court or somebody of the kind, so that she might be tied to Spenworth and Cheniston have no heir. Comment... What is the phrase? Comment is superfluous! But, if Arthur or Will were steward of Cheniston, they would give a better account of their stewardship than my brother-in-law is likely to do... I have lost the thread... Ah, yes! "Satan rebuking sin, Spenworth," I suggested, "though I have no idea what charge you are bringing against my boy." "You can have a good time in this world without being a cad," he said. "At least I hope _I_ can. Apparently your precious Will can't." "Have a good time"! _There_ is a phrase to put you on your guard! "I don't know what you mean," I said. "I don't know what's the matter with you. But I _do_ know that we shan't do any good by continuing this discussion."