Josephine ignored the insolent innuendo.

“You do not know my husband, I think, Mr. Wingate,” she said,—­“Mr. John Wingate—­Lord Dredlinton.”

The newcomer’s manner underwent a sudden change.

“What, John Wingate from New York?” he exclaimed.

Wingate assented briefly.  Lord Dredlinton advanced at once with outstretched hand.  All the amiability which he could muster at a moment’s notice was diffused into his tone and manner.

“My dear sir,” he said, “I am delighted to meet you.  I have just been dining with our mutual friend, Peter Phipps, and your name was the last mentioned.  I, in fact, accepted a commission to find you out and convey a message from Phipps.  There is a little matter in which you are both indirectly interested which he wants to discuss.”

Wingate had risen to his feet.  By the side of the slighter man, his height and appearance seemed almost imposing.

“To be quite frank with you, Lord Dredlinton,” he said, as he returned the newcomer’s greeting without enthusiasm, “I cannot imagine any subject in which I could share an interest with Mr. Phipps.”

Lord Dredlinton was politely surprised.

“Is that so?  Peter Phipps is an awfully good fellow.”

“Mr. Phipps is a director of the British and Imperial Granaries, Limited,” Wingate said quietly.

“So am I,” Lord Dredlinton announced, with a bland smile.

“I am aware of it,” was the curt reply.

“You don’t approve of our company?”

“I do not.”

Lord Dredlinton shrugged his shoulders.  He lit a cigarette and dismissed the subject.

“Well, well,” he continued amiably, “there is no need for us to quarrel, I hope.  We all look at things differently in this world, and, fortunately, the matter which I want to discuss with you lies right outside the operations of the B. & I. When can you give me a few moments of your time, Mr. Wingate?  Will you call around at our offices, Number 13 Throgmorton Street, next Tuesday morning at, say? eleven-thirty?”

Wingate was a little perplexed.

“I don’t want to waste your time, Lord Dredlinton,” he said.  “Can’t you give me some idea as to the nature of this business?”

“To tell you the truth, I can’t,” the other confided.  “It’s more Phipps’ affair than mine.  I’ll promise, though, that we won’t keep you for longer than ten minutes.”

“I will come then.”  Wingate acquiesced a little doubtfully.  “I must warn you, however, that between Phipps and myself there is a quarrel of ancient standing.  We meet as acquaintances because the conventions of the world make anything else ridiculous.  One of my objects in coming to this side is to consider whether I can find any reasonable means of attacking the very disgraceful trust with which you and he are associated.”

Lord Dredlinton remained entirely unruffled.  He shrugged his shoulders with an air of protest.