Saunders came in a few minutes later, nervous and uncomfortable.

“You sent for me, my lord,” he said weakly.

“Sit down, Saunders.  Your knees seem to be troubling you.  Miss Pelham is going to sue you for breach of promise.”

“Good Lord!”

“What have you promised her, sir?”

“That I wouldn’t marry her, that’s all, sir,” floundered Saunders.  “She’s got no right to presume, sir.  Gentlemen always indulge in little affairs—­flirtations, I might say, sir—­it’s most common.  Of course, I thought she’d understand.”

“Don’t you love her, Saunders?”

“Oh, I say, my lord, that’s rather a pointed question.  My word, it is, sir!  There may have been a bit of—­er—­well, you know—­between us, sir, but—­that’s all, that’s quite all.  Absurdly all, ’pon my soul.”

“Saunders,” said Britt solemnly, “I am her attorney.  Be careful what you say in my presence.”

“Britt,” said Saunders distinctly, “you are a blooming traitor!  You told me yourself that she was used to all that sort of thing and wouldn’t mind.  Now, see what you do?  It’s—­it’s outrageous!” He was half in tears.  Then turning to Deppingham, he went on fiercely, “I won’t be bullyragged by any woman, sir.  We got along beautifully until she began to shy figurative pots at me because Selim’s wife looked at me occasionally.  Hang it all, sir, I can’t help it if the ladies choose to look at me.  Minnie—­Miss Pelham—­was perfectly silly about it.  Good Lord,” he groaned in recollection.  “It was a very trying scene she made, sir.  More than ever, it made me realise that I can’t marry beneath me.  You see, my lord, we’ve got a fairish sort of social position out Hammersmith way—­as far out as Putney, I might say, where we have rather swell friends, my mother and I—­and I don’t think—­”

“Saunders,” said Lord Deppingham sternly, “she loves you.  I don’t understand why or how, but she does.  Just because you have obtained an exalted social position at Hammersmith Bridge is no reason you should become a snob.  I daresay she stands just as well at Brooklyn Bridge as you do at Hammersmith.  She’s a fine girl and would be an adornment to you, such as Hammersmith could be proud of.  If you want my candid opinion, Saunders, I think you’re a silly ass!”

“Do you really, my lord?” quite humbly.

“Shall I prove it to you by every man on the place?  Miss Pelham is quite good enough for any one of us.  I’d be proud to have her as my wife—­if I lived at Hammersmith Bridge.”

“You amaze me, sir!”

“She’s a very pretty girl,” volunteered Chase glibly.

“Oh, she could marry like a flash in New York,” said Britt.  “A dozen men I know of are crazy about her.  Good-looking chaps, too,” The sarcasm escaped Saunders, who was fidgeting uncomfortably.

“Of course—­you know—­the breaking of the engagement—­I should say the row, wasn’t of my doing,” he submitted, pulling at his finger joints nervously.