“Oh, please, that isn’t what I meant.  Now, will you and Jack both be quite quiet, like angels, and let me talk for a while, till I make everything clear to everybody, about everybody else.  Don’t grin.  I know I’m not beginning well, but the beginning’s the difficult part.  We wrote to you, Lord Lane, to Grenoble, saying we would be arriving about as soon as you got the letter.  We didn’t know whether we could tear you away from your mule or not; but anyhow, we should have seen each other and got each other’s news.  Then this friend of mine joined us unexpectedly; at least, we thought we might meet her, but we weren’t at all sure she would want to travel with us.  However, here she is, and she’s a perfect dear; and next to Jack and Dad I love her better than anybody else in the world.  Besides, she gave me the car; and you know I told you how ill she had been, and how she was travelling for her health.  Altogether we have to consider her before anyone; and I want to know, Lord Lane, if you’ll think me a regular little beast if I speak to her first, before we arrange anything?”

I opened my lips to answer with a complimentary protest, but before I could frame a word, she had rushed to the two Mercedes, her mushroom hanging limp in her hand, and had entered into a low-voiced conversation with the human namesake.

“Look here, Jack; I wouldn’t put you out for the world,” I said.  “As for tearing myself from the mule, that surgical operation has already been performed, and I was going on to Monte Carlo——­”

“That’s our goal,” cut in Jack.  “Molly maligned the place of old days.  Now I want her to do it justice.  You and I will show her Monte at its best.”

“Yes, but I’ll go down by rail, and meet you there.”

“You’ll do nothing of the kind.  Molly’s friend is one of the most charming girls alive, but she has passed through a great trouble, followed by a severe illness.  She came to us in some distress of mind, and we are bound, as Molly says, to consider her, as she may not think herself equal to intercourse with strangers.  However, all that’s necessary is to explain you to her, as I am now explaining her to you, and the thing settles itself.  There can be no question of your not going on with us.  You and Mercedes won’t interfere with each other in the least, because, you see, now that you’ve turned up, the thing is to get down quietly, and—­and enjoy ourselves at the journey’s end.  We’ll make a rush of it.  In any case, Molly would have sat in the tonneau with her friend, and the only difference you will make in our arrangements is that I shall have you as a companion in front instead of Gotteland.”

At this moment our fair emissary returned from the enemy’s camp.

“Mercedes says that not for anything would she cheat us out of your company,” announced Molly.  “Only she hopes you won’t think her rude and horrid if she doesn’t talk.  There’s her message; but I really think, Lord Lane, that the best thing is to take no notice of the poor child.  She is very nervous and upset still, but I hope in a few days she will be herself again.  I won’t even introduce you to her.  She and I will sit in the tonneau, as quiet as two kittens, while you and Jack in front can talk over all your adventures since you met, and forget our existence.  We shan’t be so very long on the way, shall we, Jack?”