“The bird of the mountains?  My dear Arthur!  What are you driving at now?”

“Is it the Eagle car?” And as she staggered speechless under the blow he proceeded:  “Ah!  Did you think you could deceive me with your infantile conspiracies and your tacit deceits and your false smiles?”

She blushed.

“Some one’s told you.  And I do think it’s a shame!”

“And who should have told me?  Who have I seen?  I suppose you think I picked up the information at Putney last night.  And haven’t you opened all my letters since I was ill, on the pretext of saving me worry?  Shall I tell you how I know?  I knew from your face.  Your face, my innocent, can’t be read like a book.  It can be read like a newspaper placard, and for days past I’ve seen on it, ’Extra special.  Exciting purchase of a motor-car by a cunning wife.’” Then he laughed.  “No, chit.  That fellow Oswald Morfey, let it out last night.”

When she had indignantly enquired how Oswald Morfey came to be mixed up in her private matters, she said: 

“Well, darling, I hope I needn’t tell you that my sole object was to save you trouble.  The car simply had to be bought, and as quickly as possible, so I did it.  Need I tell you—­”

“You needn’t, certainly,” Mr. Prohack agreed, and going to the window he lifted the curtain.  Yes.  There stood a real car, a landaulette, with the illustrous eagle on the front of its radiator, and a real chauffeur by its side.  The thing seemed entirely miraculous to Mr. Prohack; and he was rather impressed by his wife’s daring and enterprise.  After all, it was somewhat of an undertaking for an unworldly woman to go out alone into the world and buy a motor-car and engage a chauffeur, not to mention clothing the chauffeur.  But Mr. Prohack kept all his imperturbability.

“Isn’t it lovely?”

“Is it paid for?”

“Oh, no!”

“Didn’t you have to pay any deposit?”

“Of course I didn’t.  I gave your name, and that was sufficient.  We needn’t keep it if we don’t like it after the trial run.”

“And is it insured?”

“Of course, darling.”

“And what about the licence?”

“Oh!  The Eagle Company saw to all those stupid things for me.”

“And how many times have you forged my signature while I’ve been lying on a bed of pain?”

“The fact is, darling, I made the purchase in my own name.  Now come along.  We’re going round the park.”

The way she patted his overcoat when she had got it on to him...!  The way she took him by the hand and pulled him towards the drawing-room door...!  She had done an exceedingly audacious deed, and her spirits rose as she became convinced from his demeanour that she had not pushed audacity too far. (For she was never absolutely sure of him.)

“Wait one moment,” said Mr. Prohack releasing himself and slipping back to the window.