He picked some fluff off his waistcoat.

‘I’m in no position to dictate terms yet,’ he said.  ’That will come later.  I must probe into this a little further.  In the meantime, I accept your invitation without prejudice—­if you understand what that means.’

I understood and began to be happy again.  Sub-alterns without prejudices were quite new to me.  ‘All right,’ I replied; ’if you’ll go up to the house, I’ll turn out the lights.’

He walked off stiffly, while I searched the sack and the car for the impounded correspondence that Bobby had talked of.  I found nothing except, as the police reports say, the trace of a struggle.  He had kicked half the varnish off the back of the front seat, and had bitten the leather padding where he could reach it.  Evidently a purposeful and hard-mouthed young gentleman.

‘Well done!’ said Stalky at the door.  ’So he didn’t slay you.  Stop laughing.  He’s talking to The Infant now about depositions.  Look here, you’re nearest his size.  Cut up to your rooms and give Ipps your dinner things and a clean shirt for him.’

‘But I haven’t got another suit,’ I said.

’You!  I’m not thinking of you!  We’ve got to conciliate him.  He’s in filthy rags and a filthy temper, and he won’t feel decent till he’s dressed.  You’re the sacrifice.  Be quick!  And clean socks, remember!’

Once more I trotted up to my room, changed into unseasonable unbrushed grey tweeds, put studs into a clean shirt, dug out fresh socks, handed the whole garniture over to Ipps, and returned to the hall just in time to hear Stalky say, ’I’m a stockbroker, but I have the honour to hold His Majesty’s commission in a Territorial battalion.’  Then I felt as though I might be beginning to be repaid.

‘I have a very high opinion of the Territorials myself,’ said Mr. Wontner above a glass of sherry. (Infant never lets us put bitters into anything above twenty years old.) ’But if you had any experience of the Service, you would find that the Average Army Man—­’

Here The Infant suggested changing, and Ipps, before whom no human passion can assert itself, led Mr. Wontner away.

‘Why the devil did you tell him I was on the Bench?’ said Infant wrathfully to me.  ’You know I ain’t now.  Why didn’t he stay in his father’s office?  He’s a raging blight!’

‘Not a bit of it,’ said Stalky cheerfully.  ’He’s a little shaken and excited.  Probably Beetle annoyed him in the garage, but we must overlook that.  We’ve contained him so far, and I’m going to nibble round his outposts at dinner.  All you’ve got to do, Infant, is to remember you’re a gentleman in your own house.  Don’t hop!  You’ll find it pretty difficult before dinner’s over.  I don’t want to hear anything at all from you, Beetle.’

‘But I’m just beginning to like him,’ I said.  ‘Do let me play!’

’Not till I ask you.  You’ll overdo it.  Poor old Dhurrah-bags!  A scandal ‘ud break him up!’