“A very civil fellow,” said Sir Anthony, whom we had brought back to White Ladies to tea, “and a sportsman.  I’m truly thankful.  Spoke so nicely of Derry—­said he’d always looked up to him and he was proud to think he was to carry on his—­his home.”  His voice faltered, and something of the old stricken look hung for an instant in the keen grey eyes.  The next moment it was ousted by the flash of victory, and they were bent upon me.  “So you deported the alien to Ramilly?  Gad, but I’d ’ve liked to see the terrier bring him down.”

As he spoke there was the noise of a familiar scamper, and a moment later Nobby had hurled himself across the terrace into my lap and was licking my face with an enthusiastic violence which could not have been more pronounced if he had not seen me for years.

And in his wake came Berry.

I had told Sir Anthony that, if he desired to thank any one, he must thank my brother-in-law, because, but for the latter’s quick wit.  Merry Down would have fallen into the enemy’s hands.  But, when the old baronet had clapped him upon the back, Berry nodded at me.

“I believe,” he said, “I was the first to conceive the felony.  That comes of being a magistrate.  But that’s the merchant who carried it out.  Largely at my expense, I admit.  But that’s a matter for him and me to settle.  I tell you, Sir Anthony, you must thank him—­and the—­er—­hell-hound.  A more masterly display of devilry I never witnessed.”  He sank into a chair.  “Let refreshment be brought me.”

Daphne blew him a kiss.

“One moment, old chap.  Did the servants see you come in?”

Her husband nodded.

“Then there’ll be some fresh tea in a moment.  And now, what happened?  We’re simply wild to hear.”

“Yes,” cried Jill eagerly.  “And did you really call him ‘Stunkenblotch’?  And what happened to his boot?  And where——­”

“The last thing we saw,” said Adele, “was the fellow get up and go for Nobby.  You were sitting by the side of the road.”

“And before you begin,” said I, “let me say that I wouldn’t have left you, brother, if I could have thought of any other way out.  But it seemed the only thing to do.”

Berry put up his hand.

“Strange as it may seem,” he said, “for once I don’t blame you.  If I hadn’t been so weak with laughter I might have boarded the car, but it was then or never.  I didn’t expect you to wait.”

“How did you get on?”

“I fear,” said Berry, “that Mr. Dunkelsbaum did expect the car to be waiting at the top of the hill.  What he said when he found that the road, which we could see for about five furlongs, was unoccupied, I shall try to forget.  Suffice it that he perspired with great freedom, and for a long time appeared to be afflicted with an impediment in his speech.  Occasionally he addressed me in Patagonian, but since the only words I could remember were schloss, ausgang and bahnhof, my replies, judging from their reception, were unsatisfactory and sometimes, I grieve to think, even irrelevant.