"Oh, no," she answered. "I shall probably enjoy lying in bed to-morrow." Then with a little laugh she added: "But surely I can walk round. It's quite a short distance isn't it, and all across the nice Heath?" "Just as you like," said Tony. "I shall send the car any way. The morning air is so good for Jennings." As he spoke there was a sound of footsteps on the stairs, and a moment later Spalding re-entered the room. "My wife asks me to say, sir, that she will be very pleased to make the young lady as comfortable as possible. She is coming downstairs herself as soon as we have withdrawn. Owing to the lateness of the hour she is slightly--h'm--_en déshabillé_." "We will retire in good order," said Tony gravely. Then as Spalding tactfully left the room he turned to Isabel. "Good-night, Isabel," he said. "Sleep peacefully, and don't dream that you are being chased by yellow-faced strangers." She gave him her little slim cool hand, and he raised it lightly to his lips. "Good-night," she answered, "and thank you, thank you again so much." Then she paused. "It's just like a fairy story, isn't it?" she added. "Just," said Tony with enthusiasm. CHAPTER V THE LENIENCY OF JUSTICE As the clock above the mantelpiece struck eleven, Guy Oliver wiped his pen and laid it carefully down in front of him. He was sitting at a roll-top desk in his office--a room of severely business-like aspect, chiefly furnished with maps and filing cabinets. With that systematic deliberation that marked all his movements he extracted a document from the pigeon-hole in front of him and rising to his feet walked across to the door. In the passage outside a neatly dressed housemaid was engaged in the task of polishing the banisters. "Do you know if Sir Antony is up yet, Mary?" he inquired. "He has been up some little time, sir," answered the girl. "I believe you will find him in the study. I heard him telling Mr. Spalding to lay breakfast in there, instead of in the dining-room." With a look of mild surprise upon his face, Guy pursued his way downstairs. He crossed the hall, and opening the door of the study remained for a moment on the threshold, contemplating the scene in front of him. A black oak gate-legged table, gleaming with flowers, fruit, and silver, stood out attractively in the centre of the room, while the spring sunshine, streaming in through the open French window, bathed everything in its warm, inspiriting rays. Tony himself looking delightfully cool and serene in a perfectly cut grey morning suit, was lounging on the broad window-seat gazing out into the garden. He turned round at Guy's entrance. "Hullo, old chap!" he observed pleasantly: "just out of bed?" Guy took no notice of this irreverent question. He advanced to the table, and adjusting his pince-nez, carefully inspected its contents.