Canynge.  One moment.  Mr Borring, d’you mind—­

Colford.  It makes no odds, General.  Four of us in there heard him.  He’s saying it was Ronald Dancy robbed him down at WINSOR’s.  The fellow’s mad over losing the price of that filly now she’s won the Cambridgeshire.

Borring. [All ears] Dancy!  Great S-Scott!

Colford.  Dancy’s in the Club.  If he hadn’t been I’d have taken it on myself to wring the bounder’s neck.

     Winsor and Borring have risen.  St Erth alone remains seated.

Canynge. [After consulting st Erth with a look] Ask De Levis to be good enough to come in here.  Borring, you might see that Dancy doesn’t leave the Club.  We shall want him.  Don’t say anything to him, and use your tact to keep people off.

     Borring goes out, followed by Colford.  Winsor.  Result of hearing
     he was black-balled—­pretty slippy.

Canynge.  St Erth, I told you there was good reason when I asked you to back young De Levis.  Winsor and I knew of this insinuation; I wanted to keep his tongue quiet.  It’s just wild assertion; to have it bandied about was unfair to Dancy.  The duel used to keep people’s tongues in order.

St Erth.  H’m!  It never settled anything, except who could shoot straightest.

Colford. [Re-appearing] De Levis says he’s nothing to add to what he said to you before, on the subject.

Canynge.  Kindly tell him that if he wishes to remain a member of this Club he must account to the Committee for such a charge against a fellow-member.  Four of us are here, and form a quorum.

     Colford goes out again.

St Erth.  Did Kentman ever give the police the numbers of those notes, Winsor?

Winsor.  He only had the numbers of two—­the hundred, and one of the fifties.

St Erth.  And they haven’t traced ’em?

Winsor.  Not yet.

     As he speaks, de Levis comes in.  He is in a highly-coloured, not to
     say excited state.  Colford follows him.

De Levis.  Well, General Canynge!  It’s a little too strong all this—­ a little too strong. [Under emotion his voice is slightly more exotic].

Canynge. [Calmly] It is obvious, Mr De Levis, that you and Captain Dancy can’t both remain members of this Club.  We ask you for an explanation before requesting one resignation or the other.

De Levis.  You’ve let me down.

Canynge.  What!

De Levis.  Well, I shall tell people that you and Lord St Erth backed me up for one Club, and asked me to resign from another.

Canynge.  It’s a matter of indifference to me, sir, what you tell people.