He disengaged his hand and lightly slapped Noel's shoulder as a preliminary to taking his departure. But Noel, with a swift return to boyhood, caught him by the arms. "I don't know what to say to you, old chap," he said, quick feeling in the words. "You've made me feel like a murderer." "My dear chap, what rot!" "No, it's not rot! I've hated you like the devil. I'm beastly ashamed--beastly sorry. I'll do anything to atone--anything under the sun. Give me something to do for you, Max, old boy! I can't stand myself if you go like this." He spoke impulsively enough, but there was more than mere impulse in his speech. Hot-headed repentance it might be, but it was the real thing. Max stood still, faintly smiling. "My dear lad, there's nothing you can do for me that you won't do twice as well for yourself," he said. "I'm glad you care for her, and I'm not sorry you hated me for getting in your way. You might let me know when it's time to congratulate. That's all I can think of at the present moment--except, yes, one thing!" "What?" said Noel. Max's face hardened somewhat. "That fellow Hunt-Goring," he said. "He's the chap I told you of. Keep clear of him!" Noel stiffened. "I should like to kill him," he said. "Yes, but you can't. He's more than a match for you. He once had some hold over Olga--something very slight. I never bothered to find out what. But she has broken away and he is an enemy in consequence. Watch out for him, but don't fall foul of him! He won't worry you for long. He is taking opium enough to kill an ox every day of his life." "Is he though? Well, no one will weep for him." "Unless it's Mrs. Musgrave," observed Max drily. "She doesn't like the bounder," declared Noel with conviction. "Look here; sit down again! I've seen nothing of you yet." "No, I can't stop, thanks. I've said good-bye to everyone else, and time is up. Don't go and get smashed up at polo! If she doesn't want you now, she will very soon. Bear that in mind!" Noel's dark eyes shone. "The only risks I'm likely to take would be for her safety. I wish to Heaven Ratcliffe could be made to see the danger they are in." Max smiled a little. "I've been talking to him. We touched on that point. He knows--rather more on the subject than we do." "But he makes light of it," Noel protested. "The place is infested with _budmashes_ and he rather encourages them than otherwise. I myself kicked an old blackguard of a moonstone-seller--or so he described himself--off his premises only the other night." Max broke into a laugh. "Did you though?" "Yes. What is there to laugh at? Wouldn't you have done the same? And when I told Nick the day after, he described the old beggar as a friend of his." Max was still laughing. "What a devil of a fellow you are! I've seen the old gentleman myself. I rather think he is a friend. How did he take the kicking?" "Oh, I don't know. He cursed a bit and went. What's the joke, I say?"