“H’m,” said Sir Richmond.

“I assure you we don’t like it.  This Irish business.  We feel a sort of ownership in England.  It’s like finding your dearest aunt torturing the cat.”

“We must talk of that,” said Sir Richmond.

“I wish you would.”

“It is a cat and a dog—­and they have been very naughty animals.  And poor Aunt Britannia almost deliberately lost her temper.  But I admit she hits about in a very nasty fashion.”

“And favours the dog.”

“She does.”

“I want to know all you admit.”

“You shall.  And incidentally my friend and I may have the pleasure of showing you Salisbury and Avebury.  If you are free?”

“We’re travelling together, just we two.  We are wandering about the south of England on our way to Falmouth.  Where I join a father in a few days’ time, and I go on with him to Paris.  And if you and your friend are coming to the Old George—­”

“We are,” said Sir Richmond.

“I see no great scandal in talking right on to bedtime.  And seeing Avebury to-morrow.  Why not?  Perhaps if we did as the Germans do and gave our names now, it might mitigate something of the extreme informality of our behaviour.”

“My name is Hardy.  I’ve been a munition manufacturer.  I was slightly wounded by a stray shell near Arras while I was inspecting some plant I had set up, and also I was hit by a stray knighthood.  So my name is now Sir Richmond Hardy.  My friend is a very distinguished Harley Street physician.  Chiefly nervous and mental cases.  His name is Dr. Martineau.  He is quite as civilized as I am.  He is also a philosophical writer.  He is really a very wise and learned man indeed.  He is full of ideas.  He’s stimulated me tremendously.  You must talk to him.”

Sir Richmond glanced over his shoulder at the subject of these commendations.  Through the oval window glared an expression of malignity that made no impression whatever on his preoccupied mind.

“My name,” said the young lady, “is Grammont.  The war whirled me over to Europe on Red Cross work and since the peace I’ve been settling up things and travelling about Europe.  My father is rather a big business man in New York.”

“The oil Grammont?”

“He is rather deep in oil, I believe.  He is coming over to Europe because he does not like the way your people are behaving in Mesopotamia.  He is on his way to Paris now.  Paris it seems is where everything is to be settled against you.  Belinda is a sort of companion I have acquired for the purposes of independent travel.  She was Red Cross too.  I must have somebody and I cannot bear a maid.  Her name is Belinda Seyffert.  From Philadelphia originally.  You have that?  Seyffert, Grammont?”

“And Hardy?”

“Sir Richmond and Dr. Martineau.”

“And—­Ah!—­That great green bank there just coming into sight must be Old Sarum.  The little ancient city that faded away when Salisbury lifted its spire into the world.  We will stop here for a little while....”