"Leaving Bugg to knock down the two gentlemen," proceeded Tony tranquilly, "I took Isabel to supper at Verrier's. We had a very good supper. There was----" "Never mind about the supper," interrupted Guy. "How did she come to be having breakfast with you this morning?" "What a dreadfully direct mind you have," complained Tony. "There is no pleasure in telling you a story." He paused. "The fact was," he added, "that Isabel had nowhere to sleep, so I brought her back to Mrs. Spalding's." "You what?" demanded Guy. "I brought her back to Mrs. Spalding's. I couldn't very well bring her here: I knew it would shock you. That's the worst of having a thoughtful nature like mine." "I say, is all this true?" asked Guy. "Of course it is," said Tony. "Perfectly true. I couldn't invent anything half so interesting." "You mean to say that you picked up a girl in Long Acre, and that you've actually brought her back and--and established her at the Spaldings'!" "My dear Guy!" said Tony. "Please don't talk like that. It reminds me of one of Hall Caine's heroes." He stopped to flick the ash off his cigarette. "You've seen Isabel. You surely don't think she is an abandoned adventuress, do you?" "No," said Guy. "I never suggested it: at least I never meant to. She seemed quite a nice girl in her way, but--but--well, who is she, and what on earth is she doing wandering about London without any friends?" "I don't know," said Tony. "I think she has run away from somewhere and doesn't want to go back. The only thing I am certain about is that she had a very extravagant great-grandmother." Guy got up from the bed. "Well," he said, "I have seen you do some fairly insane things in my time, but this is about the limit. Why the girl may be anything or anybody." "I know," interrupted Tony. "It's the uncertainty that makes it so exciting." "But think of the position you're putting yourself in! Suppose she has run away from school and her parents were to trace her here, why there would be a scandal that would ruin the family!" "Well, what do you think I ought to do?" asked Tony. "Turn her out again into the cold hard world?" Guy shrugged his shoulders. "You must do what you like," he said. "I'm not going to accept any responsibility. I have given you my opinion, and if you don't choose----" He was interrupted by a knock at the door, followed almost immediately by the appearance of Spalding, who was carrying a note upon a small silver tray. He crossed the room and proffered the letter to Tony. "Mr. Conway has just arrived, Sir Antony," he remarked. "He is in the drawing-room." "What's this?" asked Tony, picking up the note. "I believe it is a communication from Bugg, Sir Antony. Mrs. Spalding brought it round." Tony turned to his cousin. "You might go down and kiss Henry, will you, Guy?" he said. "I will be with you in a second."