Reggie shook his head. "That's just where you're wrong, Smith; I can afford not to--which is much more important." The lift stopped at the third landing, and Mr. Smith flung back the trellised iron gate. Then he stepped out after Reggie, and, crossing to the door exactly opposite, pressed the electric bell. "Thank you, Smith," said Reggie languidly; "you are very efficient." The bell was answered by a middle-aged, clean-shaven man with a face like a tired mask. "Good-morning, Ropes," said Reggie. "Is Mr. Delmar up?" Ropes stepped back, opening the door. "Mr. Delmar is dressing, sir; I think he is expecting you." "I know he is," said Reggie, advancing into the hall, and beginning to take off his gloves. "Has he ordered the car?" "Nine-thirty sharp, sir." Reggie smiled. "Ah, well," he said, "I think we shall be ready by ten, with any luck." "Yes, sir," replied Ropes; "I should think so, sir." "You were always an optimist, Ropes," said Reggie. At that moment a door on the farther side of the hall was thrown open and a voice--a peculiarly engaging, good-tempered sort of voice--inquired cheerfully: "That you, Reggie?" Reggie laid down his hat and stick on the settee. "The answer," he said, "is in the affirmative." "Well, come in," replied the voice, "and don't be an ass." Accepting the first suggestion, Reggie walked across the hall. The room which he entered was as comfortable as a man's bedroom has any right to be. A wood fire was crackling away pleasantly in the grate, and reflecting a comfortable glow on the two or three excellent specimens of Mr. Finch Stuart's talent which hung upon the walls. On the bed sat Tony, tastefully draped in a white Turkish bath robe. He was smoking a cigarette and helping himself out of a bottle of champagne from the table beside him. Reggie looked at him reprovingly. "Tony," he said, "I thought you had long ago abandoned that disgusting English habit of eating breakfast." Tony shook his head. "You have always misjudged me," he said. "My real tastes are as simple as a schoolboy's. Have some?" He poured out a glass and handed it to Reggie, at the same time casting a critical eye over the latter's clothes. "My dear Reggie," he said, "you are very beautiful, but do you think that's the most suitable costume for motoring down to Newmarket in?" "Quite," said Reggie contentedly, "if one goes inside." "Oh," replied Tony, "you've arranged it, have you? May I hear the details?" "Certainly," said Reggie, sipping gracefully from his glass. "You will perform your usual miracles with the steering-wheel, Musette will watch you with grave approval, and Gwendoline and I will sit behind and hold hands." "And suppose Musette wants to go inside?" Reggie smiled. "I am not the least afraid of that," he said. Tony got up from the bed and began to shed his bath robe.