“Oh, damn it, Jake!” broke in Bunny with sudden heat.  “You know Maud said you were to ask him to dine if he turned up.”

“You shut up, my son!” commanded Jake with absolute serenity.  “It’s not any business of yours anyway.  We’ll send you to bed before dinner if you aren’t mighty careful.”

Bunny laughed at the threat, but his sallow boyish face coloured sensitively notwithstanding.

Saltash laughed also.  “Oh, you needn’t do that, Jake.  I’m as harmless as any sucking dove, I assure you.  You’ll have to put up with me now.  When shall I come?”

“Come tonight!” said Jake with quiet decision.  “Eight o’clock if that suits you.  Afraid I must go now.  Bunny, take his lordship to see Prince Charlie!”

He lifted a hand in salute and turned away—­a man of no pretensions either social or intellectual, yet who knew how to hold his own with high and low alike.

“Keeps you in order still, does he?” gibed Saltash, as he watched him go.  “You’re getting too old to be on a leading-string, mon cher.”

Bunny frowned at the careless words.  “You don’t know him.  He’s not that sort of ass.  We’re pals, Jake and I, and I’m proud of it.”

“Of course you are!” said Saltash comfortably.  “Didn’t I tell you long ago that he was a gentleman?  It’s the way he’s made.  Hewn out of raw material, but the real thing and no mistake.  You must never quarrel with him on my account, Bunny, my lad.  It would be very poor economy on your part.”

“I shan’t do that,” said Bunny.  “But he’s got to do you justice.  Maud says the same.”

Saltash laughed aloud.  “But, my dear chap, nobody ever does that!  I don’t myself!”

Bunny looked at him with affection.  “You always have tried to make yourself out a worse rotter than you really are, haven’t you, Charlie?  I always tell Jake so.”

“No, it’s not my doing,” said Saltash lightly.  “That’s the rest of the world, mon ami.  They like their pictures highly coloured.  So—­pourquoi pas?”

He snapped his fingers and laughed, and they passed on together with careless jesting and friendly chaff.  Saltash had always been kind to young Bernard Brian.  The boy had been a helpless cripple in his childhood, and he had developed a keen appreciation for all kindness during those days which nothing could now efface.  Whatever Saltash’s morals, he was a friend, and as such Bunny never failed to treat him.  They spent the rest of the afternoon together in and out of the enclosure, and when amidst wild enthusiasm Prince Charlie won his maiden race, the two were waiting side by side to congratulate Jake as he led the victor in.  Saltash departed soon afterwards and motored back to Burchester Castle to dress.  And then Bunny, half-laughing, half-apologetic, turned to his brother-in-law.

“I can’t help being decent to Charlie, Jake.  I don’t care a damn what they say.”

Jake gave him a straight look from under his rough red brows.  “I’m not blaming you,” he said.