"I must accept," said Paul reluctantly; "I can't find Boaler now, and it might take hours to make him see what I wanted. I'll trust to your honour. What shall I do?" "Do? Get away from this, he'll be coming in here very soon to see me. Run away and play with the children or hide in the china closet--anything but stay here." "I--I must be here while you are managing him," objected Paul. "Nonsense!" said Paradine angrily. "I tell you it will spoil all, unless you--who's that? it's his step--too late now--dash it all! Behind that screen, quick--don't move for your life till I tell you you may come out!" Mr. Bultitude had no choice; there was just time to set up an old folding screen which stood in a corner of the room and slip behind it before the door opened. It might not be the highest wisdom to trust everything to his new ally in this manner; but what else could he do, except stand by in forced inactivity while the momentous duel was being fought out? Just then, at all events, he saw no other course. 18. _Run to Earth_ "The is noon in this hous schuld bynde me this night." --_The Coke's Tale of Gamelyn._ Dick burst open the door of the billiard-room rather suddenly, and then stood holding on to the handle and smiling down upon his relative in a happy and affectionate but rather weak manner. "So here you are!" he said. "Been lookin' for you everywhere. What's good of shutting 'self in here? Come up and play gamesh. No? Come in and have shupper. I've had shupper." "So I perceive," observed Uncle Marmaduke; and the fact was certainly obvious enough. "Tell y'what I did," giggled the wretched Dick. "You know I never did get what I call regular good blow out--always some one to shay 'had quite 'nough' 'fore I'd begun. So I thought this time I would have a tuck-in till--till I felt tired, and I--he-he-he--I got down 'fore anybody elsh and helped myshelf. Had first go-in. No one to help to thingsh. No girlsh to bother. It was prime! When they've all gone up again you and me'll go in and have shome more, eh?" "You're a model host," said his uncle. "It's a good shupper," Dick went on. "I ought to know. I've had some of everything. It'sh almost too good for kids. But it'sh a good thing I went in first. After I'd been in a little time I saw a sponge-cake on the table, and when I tried it, what d'ye think I found? It was as full inside of brandy-an'-sherry as it could be. All it could do to shtand! I saw d'rectly it washn't in condition come to table, and I said, 'Take it away! take it away! It'sh drunk; it'sh a dishgraceful sight for children!' But they wouldn't take it away; sho I had to take it away. But you can't take away a whole tipshy-cake!" "I am quite sure you did your best," murmured Paradine.