tacking that meal with liberal energy. He sprang up as Mr. Aston
entered.

"My dear boy, I thought you were not coming till to-morrow at the
earliest."

"Will it be inconvenient?" asked Christopher, with demure gravity.
"I'm sorry, but I was so bored."

He stumbled a little over the prevarication. St. Michael was not Peter
Masters, even excuses found no easy flow in his presence.

"I'm delighted," said Mr. Aston, and looked it.

He had breakfasted in his room, so he sat down by Christopher and
tried to find out the reason of the opportune return.

"Your letters did not sound at all bored."

"I only realised it yesterday evening," returned Christopher, with
great gravity, "so we--that is I--came down by the mail last
night--and Nevil...."

"Nevil?"

"Yes, I picked him up, you know. He was seeing a man in Leamington."

Christopher carved ham carefully, and avoided Mr. Aston's eye, smiling
to himself over his promise to Nevil not to betray him.

"Nevil went to London. How did--" Mr. Aston stopped suddenly,
"Christopher."

"Yes, St. Michael."

"You are not to lie to me whatever you do to others. Tell me what it
means."

Christopher regarded him doubtfully and then laughed outright.

"Nevil did not like travelling alone. He thought he would get lost, so
he asked me to look after him."

"He went from London to Leamington to get a companion to travel home
with?"

"Exactly. Isn't it like him, St. Michael?"

They again looked steadily at each other.

"And being a bit weary of fighting for the right of individual
existence," went on Christopher, "I agreed to bring him home. Mr.
Masters has been most kind, but he does like his own way."

"And what about you?"

"Oh, I like mine, too. That's why it was so boring. How's Caesar?"

"He will be pleased to see you. Where is Nevil?"

"Gone to bed, I expect. How he hates travelling."

"Yes."

"He hates explanations still more, please St. Michael."

"He should have prepared a more plausible story."

"He thinks it quite credible. He expected me to believe--about the man
in Leamington."

"And did you?"

"Well, do you?"

They both laughed and Christopher looked at the clock.

"Do you think Vespasian will let me take in Caesar's breakfast?"

"He would be delighted, I'm sure. Caesar won't believe in Leamington
either, Christopher."

"But he will easily believe I was bored--which is true. I don't think
he is as fond of Mr. Masters as he pretends to be