“Sir Horace Jerveyson was at the ball, too.”

“Talking to Lady Blantock.”

“And looking at Miss Blantock.  I noticed, and—­I put things together.”

“Who would ever have thought of putting those two together?”

“I did.  I said to myself and afterwards to Jack—­may I tell you what I said?”

“Please do.  If it hurts, it will be a counter-irritant.”

“Well, Jack had told me such heaps about you, you know, and he’d hinted that, while we were having our great romance on a motor car, you were having one on toboggans and skates at Davos, so I was interested.  Then I saw her at the ball, and we were introduced.  She was pretty, but—­a prize white Persian kitten is pretty; also it has little claws.  She liked you, of course, because you’re young and good-looking.  Besides, her father was knighted only because he discovered a new microbe or something, while you’re a ‘hearl,’ as my new maid says.”

“A penniless ‘hearl,’” I laughed.

“You must have plenty of pennies, for you seem to have everything a man can want; but that is different from what a woman can want.  I’m sure Helen Blantock and her mother had an understanding.  I can hear Lady Blantock saying, ’Nell, dear, you may give Lord Lane encouragement up to a certain point, for it would be nice to be a countess; but don’t let him propose yet.  Who knows what may happen?’ Then what did happen was Sir Horace Jerveyson, who has more pounds than you have pennies.  Helen would console herself with the thought that the wife of a knight is as much ‘Lady So-and-So’ as a countess.  I hate that grocerman, and as for Helen, you ought to thank heaven fasting for your escape.”

“Perhaps I shall some day, but that day is not yet,” I answered.  “However, there is still Monte Carlo.”

“Shall you drown your sorrows in roulette?” asked Molly, looking horrified.

“Who knows?”

“Don’t let her misjudge you,” cut in Jack.  “Have you forgotten what I told you about the Italian Countess, Molly?”

“Oh, the Countess with whom Lord Lane used to flirt at Davos before he met Miss Blantock?  Now I see.  You said that you were going to Monte Carlo, on purpose to make Helen Blantock jealous.”

“I’m afraid some spiteful idea of the sort was in my mind,” I admitted.  “But the Countess is fascinating, and if she would be kind, Monte Carlo might effect a cure of the heart, as Davos did of the lungs.”

“I believe you’re capable of marrying for pique.  Oh, if I could prove to you that you aren’t, and never have been, in love with Helen!”

“It would be difficult.”

“I’ll engage to do it, if you’ll take my prescription.”

“What is that?”

“Cheerful society and amusement.  In other words, Jack’s and my society, and a tour on our motor car.”

“What, make a discord in the music of your duet?”

“Dear old boy, we want you,” said Jack.