im go now," said Cleek, serenely. "And just give
your attention to locking the door and lighting up. Major, Doctor,
Mr. Narkom, pray be seated. The dear captain is going to give you
all a little entertainment and the performance is about to begin.
As good with your fists as you are with a metal-headed hunting crop,
Captain?"

"None of your dashed business what I'm good at," replied the captain.
"Look here, Norcross----"

"You cut that at once!" roared the major. "If you open your head to
me, I'll bang it off you, you brute."

"Well, then you, Mr. Policeman----"

"Ready for you in a minute, Captain; don't get impatient," said
Cleek, as he laid aside his coat and began to roll up his sleeves.
"Rome wasn't built in a day--though beauty may be wrecked in a
minute. You'll have the time of your life this evening. You are
really too beautiful to live, Captain, and I'm going to come as near
to killing you as I know how without actually completing the job.
You see, that poor little Highland lassie hasn't a father or brother
to do this business for her, so she's kindly consented to my taking
it on in her behalf. I'm afraid I shall break that lovely nose
of yours, my gay gallant--and I don't give a damn if I do! A brute
that spoils a woman's life deserves to go through the world with
a mark to record it, and I'm going to put one on you to the best of
my ability. All seated, gentlemen? Right you are. Now then, Captain,
come on. Come on--you _swine_!"

* * * * *

It was twenty minutes later.

Lady Mary Norcross--deep in the obligatory business of dressing for
dinner--had just taken up a powder puff and was assiduously dabbing
the back of her neck, when the door behind her opened softly and the
voice of her liege lord travelled across the breadth of the room,
saying:

"Mary! May I come in a minute, dear? I just want to get my cheque
book out of your writing desk--that's all."

"Yes, certainly. Come in by all means," gave back her ladyship. "I'm
quite alone. Springer has finished with me, and oh! Good heavens!
Seton! My dear, my _dear_!"

"All right. Don't get frightened. It isn't mine. And it isn't his,
either--much of it. We've been having a little 'set to' at the
stable, and I got it hugging a policeman."

"Seton!"

"Yes--I know it's awful, but I simply couldn't help it. Demmit it,
Mary, don't look so shocked--I'd have _kissed_ the beggar as well,
if I thought I could acqu