“Easy does it,” said Capper.  “It won’t hurt ’em any to wait.  Get your arm over my shoulder.  That’s the way.  These steps are the very devil for you.”

He bent his wiry frame to Lucas Errol’s need, and helped him to descend.  At the foot he paused a moment and looked at him keenly.

“All serene,” smiled Lucas.  “I’ll take your arm now, if it’s all the same to the mother.  You didn’t expect to find us plunged in wedding gaieties, I guess.”

“Wish it had been your own,” said Capper.

At which Lucas turned up his face to the sky and laughed.

They crossed the flag-decked garden and entered by the conservatory door.  People were beginning to crowd about them.

“We must find you a seat somehow,” said Capper.

“I must have a word with the bride and bridegroom first,” Lucas declared.

But the bride and bridegroom were for the moment inaccessible, being completely surrounded by well-wishers.

Capper seized upon the first chair he came upon and put Lucas into it.

“I seem to have come in the nick of time,” he observed drily.  “Why is no one detailed to look after you?  Where is that tiger’s whelp Nap?”

“Nap’s in America, been gone two months or more.”

“That so?” There was keen satisfaction in Capper’s tone.  “That clears the ground for action.  And Lady Carfax?  Is she here?”

“No.”  There was a hint of reserve in the quiet reply.  “Lady Carfax is in deep mourning for her husband.”

“That so?” said Capper again.  He seemed to take but casual note of the information.  He was pulling absently at his pointed yellow beard.

Lucas lay back in his chair and suffered himself to relax with a sigh.  Capper’s eyes darted lizard-like over him, taking in every line of him, keenly alive to each detail.

“If I were you I should shunt as soon as possible,” he said.  “Since it isn’t your own show unfortunately, I should imagine you are not indispensable.”

But at this point the throng parted, and Dot, looking very young in her bridal white, and supremely happy, burst eagerly through,

“Oh, here you are!” she cried.  “Your mother said you were close by, but I couldn’t see you anywhere.  It’s been too much for you.  You’re tired.”

She bent over him in quick solicitude, then, as he smiled and drew her down to him, stooped and kissed him, whispering a few words for his ear alone.

Bertie was close behind her, but he had caught sight of Capper and had stopped short with a queer expression on his boyish face, a look that was a curious blend of consternation and relief.

A moment and he stepped up to the great doctor and took him by the elbow.  “You here already!” he said.  “I didn’t expect you so soon.”

“I have only run down to have a look at things,” said Capper.  “I seem to have pitched on a busy day.  I hope you are enjoying yourself.”