This gratifying invitation, from a noted Patron of the Ring, could not but mollify the injured feelings of the late combatants. Decency, however, had to be preserved. ‘Sir,’ said Jack accusingly, ‘neither my friend’s gun nor mine was loaded!’

‘Do you know, that notion has just crossed my mind?’ said Sir Gavin. ‘I have such a wretched memory! Really, I must apologize, but I am quite famous for my lapses, and you must forgive me.’

They had a suspicion they were being laughed at, but it was very difficult to pick a quarrel with the gentleman from London. Tom solved the problem by rounding on Harry, and saving sternly: ‘You should have inspected the weapons! You’re my second!’

‘I did!’ said Harry, going off into a guffaw.

It might be difficult to know how to deal with the gentleman from London, but there was no difficulty at all in deciding how to deal with Harry—who had had the effrontery to make fools of two persons who, out of sheer compassion, had suffered him to join them occasionally in their chosen pursuits. They eyed him measuringly, and they advanced upon him in a purposeful way.

The gentleman from London seemed to be in the path. He said: ‘The blame rests entirely on my shoulders. Er—did you wish to kill one another?’

‘No!’ said Jack. ‘And it was—it was dashed officious of you, sir, to leave out the ball, for we meant all the time to delope!’

‘My lack of tact often keeps me awake at night,’ apologized Sir Gavin. ‘You see, I was requested—by a lady—to intervene in your quarrel, so what else could I do?’

Jack looked at Tom, a little trouble in his face, as he recalled the events of the previous evening. ‘Tom, why?’ he asked.

Tom flushed. ‘It don’t signify! I dare say all’s fair in—in love and war, but it was the roses! I never thought you would use me so!’