, to Cecily's
chair, plumped down into it, and called out to Mason, "Something to eat
and some champagne."

"Yes, sir," said Mason in a flurry.

"Oh, by-the-bye, you can say 'my Lord' again. The lawyers blundered, and
there's been a mistake."

The astonished Mason began to express felicitations. Harry was
petulantly short with him.

"Oh, shut up that, my dear man, and give me some champagne." He drank a
glass off and then observed, "I hope you two have had a decent dinner?"
He had the manner of a host now.

"I--I hadn't much appetite," stammered Neeld.

"Well, I'm hungry anyhow," and he fell to on his beef, having waved soup
and fish aside impatiently. "Tell them all downstairs what I've told
you, Mason, but for heaven's sake don't let there be any fuss. Oh, and I
suppose you'd better keep something hot for Lady Tristram."

Mason's exit was hastened by the consciousness of his commission. The
moment he was gone Mina broke out:

"Where's Cecily?"

"I left her on the lawn," said Harry, frowning hard but eating heartily.

"You've told her?"

"Yes, I've told her."

"And what did she say?" The Imp's utterance was jerky from her
perturbation.

"Look here, Mina, mightn't you go and ask her? It's a long story, and
I'm deuced hungry, you know."

Mina needed no further permission. She rose and flew. Neeld, though
uncertain what was expected of him, sat on, nervously eating
gooseberries--a fruit which rarely agreed with him. Harry drank a second
glass of champagne and his brow relaxed, although he was still
thoughtful.

"I--I hope all has gone well?" Neeld ventured to inquire.

"I scarcely know. The interview took rather an unexpected turn." He
spoke as though the development had surprised him and he could hardly
trace how it had come about. "The whole thing will be settled very
soon," he added. "Have a glass of port, Mr Neeld? It'll do you more good
than those gooseberries."

Neeld laid a ready hand on the decanter, as he asked,

"Is--er--Lady Tristram not coming in to dinner?"

"Really I don't know. She didn't mention it." His thoughts seemed
elsewhere. "Was I wrong to tell Mason to give me the title?" he asked.
"Ought I to wait till I've formally established my claim?"

"Since it's quite clear, and there's no opposition from--from the
dispossessed claimant----" Neeld smiled feebly and sipped his port.

"That's what I thought; and it's as well to put things on a permanent
basis as soon as possible. W