"I don't want to talk about garden-parties," said Godfrey. "This is something much more serious." "There's no use coming to me about it," I said. "I told you last time that your tailor could bring you into the County Court if he liked. I shan't pay him again." The inference was a natural one. Godfrey had said that he wanted to talk about something more important than a garden-party. But the inference was wrong. Godfrey looked offended. "I sent Nicholson and Blackett a cheque last week," he said. I waited patiently. If Godfrey's business had nothing to do with garden-parties or tailors' bills, I could only suppose that he meant to make some fresh complaint about Crossan. "Pringle cashed it all right," said Godfrey, after a short pause. "I went in there the day after your party and played tennis with his daughter. They were awfully pleased." I dare say they were. People attach a surprising amount of importance to Godfrey's social patronage. I myself should be more inclined to cash his cheques for him if he stayed away from my house. But I did not want to argue with Godfrey about Pringle's taste in guests. "What's Crossan been doing to you?" I asked at last. "He hasn't been doing anything to me." "Then for goodness' sake, Godfrey, let the man alone." "I don't like the way he's going on." "You never did. There's nothing fresh about that. You've complained about him regularly every week for five years." This was an exaggeration. I am sometimes away from home for more than a week at a time and Godfrey does not always complain about Crossan in his letters. "Look here, Excellency," said Godfrey, "it's far better for you to know what Crossan's doing. He's going about all over the country day after day. He's got a motor car." I can quite understand that Crossan's owning a motor car must have a very irritating effect on Godfrey. I cannot afford to keep one. That any one else in the district over which I ought, according to Godfrey's theory, to be a kind of king, should assume a grandeur impossible for me is simply an aggravated kind of insolence. No wonder that Godfrey, with the honour of the family at heart, resented Crossan's motor car. I tried to soothe him. "It's probably quite an inferior machine," I said. "It will break down soon." "It's not only that," said Godfrey, "though I think Crossan ought to stay at home and mind his business. He must be neglecting things. But--I wish you'd walk up to the store with me, Excellency. Crossan's away." "I'd much rather go when Crossan's at home," I said; "but, of course, if you won't leave me in peace until I do, I may as well go at once."