Mr. Crewe was nettled.

“Ridley has a lot to learn,” he retorted.  “He had no conception of what was appropriate here.”

“Freddie was weak,” said Victoria, but he needed the money.  Don’t you know Mr. Vane?”

“Yes,” said Mr. Crewe, shortly, “I’ve been talking to him—­on business.”

“Oh,” said Victoria, “I had no means of knowing.  Mrs. Pomfret, I want to introduce Mr. Vane, and Miss Pomfret, Mr. Vane.”

Mrs. Pomfret, who had been hovering on the outskirts of this duel, inclined her head the fraction of an inch, but Alice put out her hand with her sweetest manner.

“When did you arrive?” she asked.

“Well, the fact is, I haven’t arrived yet,” said Austen.

“Not arrived” exclaimed Alice, with a puzzled glance into Victoria’s laughing eyes.

“Perhaps Humphrey will help you along,” Victoria suggested, turning to him.  “He might be induced to give you his celebrated grievance about his horses.”

“I have given it to him,” said Mr. Crewe, briefly.

“Cheer up, Mr. Vane, your fortune is made,” said Victoria.

“Victoria,” said Mrs. Pomfret, in her most imperial voice, “we ought to be going instantly, or we shan’t have time to drop you at the Hammonds’.”

“I’ll take you over in the new motor car,” said Mr. Crewe, with his air of conferring a special train.

“How much is gasoline by the gallon?” inquired Victoria.

“I did a favour once for the local manager, and get a special price,” said Mr. Crewe.

“Humphrey,” said Mrs. Pomfret, taking his hand, “don’t forget you are coming to dinner to-night.  Four people gave out at the last minute, and there will be just Alice and myself.  I’ve asked old Mr. Fitzhugh.”

“All right,” said Mr. Crewe, “I’ll have the motor car brought around.”

The latter part of this remark was, needless to say, addressed to Victoria.

“It’s awfully good of you, Humphrey,” she answered, “but the Hammonds are on the road to Ripton, and I am going to ask Mr. Vane to drive me down there behind that adorable horse of his.”

This announcement produced a varied effect upon those who heard it, although all experienced surprise.  Mrs. Pomfret, in addition to an anger which she controlled only as the result of long practice, was horrified, and once more levelled her glasses at Austen.

“I think, Victoria, you had better come with us,” she said.  “We shall have plenty of time, if we hurry.”

By this time Austen had recovered his breath.

“I’ll be ready in an instant,” he said, and made brief but polite adieus to the three others.

“Good-by,” said Alice, vaguely.

“Let me know when anything develops,” said Mr. Crewe, with his back to his attorney.

Austen found Victoria, her colour heightened a little, waiting for him by the driveway.  The Pomfrets had just driven off, and Mr. Crewe was nowhere to be seen.