There was a pause. "I suppose you heard about our little entertainment there yesterday?" said Tony. Spalding inclined his head. "Mrs. Spalding informed me of the facts, sir. They appear to have made a considerable impression upon her." "Mrs. Spalding was magnificent," said Tony. "It's quite impossible to frighten her." "Quite, sir," agreed Spalding. "I have observed that myself, sir." "I hope you don't object, Spalding," said Tony. "I don't think we did any harm to your property." "That's perfectly all right, sir," replied the butler. "I trust that you will consider yourself quite at home there. The house is fully insured." "Thank you, Spalding," said Tony. "You are always very obliging." Spalding acknowledged the compliment with another grave bow, and picking up the current copy of the _Auto Car_, which contained a description of the last Brooklands meeting, Tony sauntered out again on to the lawn. Here he established himself comfortably in a basket-chair, and after lighting a pipe, opened the paper at the article in question. It was enriched with several complimentary references to himself and his driving, and Tony, who liked to hear agreeable sentiments expressed about any one that he was fond of, read it through with appreciative interest. He had just finished, and was lying back in the sunshine in a pleasant state of contentment with the Universe, when the French window opened and Spalding came down on to the lawn, carrying a small silver salver, containing a couple of visiting cards. He advanced to where Tony was sitting. "Two gentlemen have called, sir, and would like to see you." Tony took out his pipe and shook off the ash on to the grass. "What are their names, Spalding?" he inquired. The butler glanced at the cards as if to refresh his memory. "They are two foreign gentlemen, Sir Antony. The Marquis da Freitas, and the Count de Sé." CHAPTER XIII A MOVE BY THE ENEMY There was a moment's pause, and then in a leisurely fashion Tony knocked the remaining tobacco out of his pipe, and put it away in his pocket. "How jolly!" he observed. "What have you done with them?" "I have shown them into the library, Sir Antony." Tony got up from his chair and pulled down his coat. "Do I look respectable, Spalding?" he asked. "I shouldn't like to receive such distinguished visitors with any suggestion of slovenliness." Spalding inspected him carefully, and then stepping forward removed a small piece of white thread from the knee of his trousers. "There is nothing the matter now, Sir Antony," he replied. Tony walked leisurely up the steps into the house, and crossing the morning-room and the hall, opened the door of the library. Da Freitas and the Count, both irreproachably dressed in frock coats, were standing on the hearth-rug. "Hulloa, Marquis!" observed Tony. "This is awfully nice of you to come and look me up. A sort of burying of the pugilistic hatchet, eh?"