rto had interested him only
academically. He was a wealthy man, and his money and his house and his pen
were at the service of the Union--but always with discretion.

Audrey and Jane Foley had learnt all this privately from Mrs. Spatt on
their arrival, after they had told such part of their tale as Jane Foley
had deemed suitable, and they had further learnt that suffragism would not
be a welcome topic at their table, partly on account of the servants and
partly on account of Mr. Ziegler, whose opinions were quite clearly opposed
to the movement, but whom they admired for true and rare culture. He was a
cousin of German residents in First Avenue and, visiting them often, had
been discovered by Mr. Spatt in the afternoon-tea train.

And just as the ices came to compete with the night wind, the postman
arrived like a deliverer. The postman had to pass the dining-room _en
route_ by the circuitous drive to the front door, and when dinner was afoot
he would hand the letters to the parlourmaid, who would divide them into
two portions, and, putting both on a salver, offer the salver first to Mrs.
and then to Mr. Spatt, while Mr. or Mrs. Spatt begged guests, if there were
any, to excuse the quaint and indeed unusual custom, pardonable only on the
plea that any tidings from London ought to be savoured instantly in such a
place as Frinton.

After leaving his little pile untouched for some time, Mr. Spatt took
advantage of the diversion caused by the brushing of the cloth and the
distribution of finger-bowls to glance at the topmost letter, which was
addressed in a woman's hand.

"She's coming!" he exclaimed, forgetting to apologise in the sudden
excitement of news, "Good heavens!" He looked at his watch. "She's here. I
heard the train several minutes ago! She must be here! The letter's been
delayed."

"Who, Alroy?" demanded Mrs. Spatt earnestly. "Not that Miss Nickall you
mentioned?"

"Yes, my dove." And then in a grave tone to the parlourmaid: "Give this
letter to your mistress."

Mr. Spatt, cheered by the new opportunity for conversation, and in his
eagerness abrogating all rules, explained how he had been in London on the
previous day for a performance of Strauss's _Elektra_, and according to his
custom had called at the offices of the Suffragette Union to see whether he
could in any manner aid the cause. He had been told that a house in Paget
Gardens lent to the Union had been basely withdrawn from service by its
owner