"Ho! Daren't he?" laughed Noel. "That's the rashest thing you ever said in your life. Come along, you scaramouch, and we'll see about that!" He bore her away, with her draperies slipping from her, followed by the _ayah_ whose open horror was surveyed by Peggy with eyes of shining amusement. A little later her shrill squeals announced the fact that Noel was carrying out his threat after a fashion which she found highly enjoyable, and Noel subsequently emerged in a somewhat heated and tumbled condition and bade Daisy a hasty farewell. "I've chastised the imp, but she's quite unregenerate. Glad I'm not her mother. I've sworn a solemn oath to take her out on the Chimpanzee to-morrow. I haven't time, but that's a detail. I'll work it somehow, if you don't mind having her ready by ten. I'll race round after parade." "I ought not to let her go," Daisy protested. He laughed at that. "Yes, yes, you must. I've promised. Good-bye! Ten o'clock then!" He shook her hand and departed, singing as he went. Hunt-Goring from the verandah watched him all-unperceived. "The whelp seems pleased with himself," he observed to Daisy, with a sneering smile. "I presume that Fortune--in the form of Miss Olga Ratcliffe--favours the brave." "He's very handsome, isn't he?" said Daisy, smiling back not without a touch of malice. "Who could help favouring such an Adonis?" "Not you, I'm sure," said Hunt-Goring, "or the charming Peggy either. But I'm a little sorry for the red-haired doctor, you know. I feel in a measure responsible for that tragedy." "The responsibility was mine," said Daisy gravely. He turned his lazy eyes upon her. "Ah, to be sure! You wanted an excuse to procure that young man his _conge_, I believe. I hope you realize that you are in my debt for just so much as the excuse was worth." Daisy made a quick movement of exasperation. "Do you never give women credit for being sincere?" she said. "Only when they are angry," said Hunt-Goring, taking out his cigarette-case. "Now join me, won't you? Sincerity is such a heating quality. I shouldn't cultivate it if I were you." But Daisy declined somewhat curtly. It was quite evident that her patience was wearing very thin. Hunt-Goring did not press her. He smiled and subsided with obvious indifference. Perhaps he deemed it wiser not to try her too far, or perhaps he lacked the energy to pursue the matter.