g manner, as though this were not the first
time and it had lost its temper with waiting. He climbed the flight of
stairs to his library and, without waiting to switch on the lights, sat
down at his table, taking up the receiver.

"Yes."

"Is this Lord Taborley?" a voice inquired.

"Lord Taborley speaking."

"This is Sir Tobias Beddow." There was a pause, followed by a little
asthmatic cough. Then, "How are you, my dear fellow? I've been trying to
reach you all evening. I was expecting to see you round here this
morning at eleven.--No, I don't mean perhaps what you infer. Besides, it
wouldn't have been any good if you had called; Terry wandered out,
without leaving word where she was going. She didn't get back till
nearly lunch-time. Most unaccountable conduct under the circumstances;
but since your conduct was equally unaccountable, perhaps it was just as
well. But that wasn't what I called you up about."

Tabs smiled in the darkness. Sir Tobias was as simple and crafty as a
child; he couldn't keep anything back. Then his mind jumped to the
obvious conclusion. Terry hadn't told her parents about her morning
interview; her parents naturally supposed that it was his fault that he
was not engaged to her as yet. Making an effort to be diplomatic, he
said, "Perhaps I can explain my apparent negligence to you later. It
must seem unpardonable. I've been busy every minute over things that
absolutely couldn't be avoided."

"Of course. Of course." The words were spoken soothingly, but without
conviction. "We men understand. It's Lady Beddow who---- Such events are
women's great occasions. She's a stickler for form. As you say, you can
explain later---- But that wasn't what I called you up about."

Tabs stifled a yawn. He had suddenly discovered he was sleepy.

"What was that you said?" Sir Tobias enquired suspiciously.

"I didn't say anything," Tabs replied politely. "But I think I know what
you called me up about. It was about Maisie--I mean Mrs. Lockwood."

"What about her?" The question was asked carelessly; he knew at once
that he had missed his guess. It was strange, even though he had guessed
wrongly, that Sir Tobias should not display more interest.

"What about her? Only that I've spent the last six hours with her. You
asked me to see her as soon as possible, you remember. I had only just
got home from being with her, when the telephone rang. She's not the
woman we thought her."

"Eh? What's that?"

He re