“Perfectly stunning how you Americans grasp things!” commented Eugene, agape with admiration.  “But I say, old chap, that’s a joke about the weapons.  Really, we shan’t need them.”

“You’re quite right; I was joking,” returned Courtney gravely.  “I’ll go right up and have some chairs and tables put out on the loggia.”

“I knew it would be a deuced lot of bother for you,” regretted Eugene apologetically.  “It’s a lot of face in us to ask it.  So crude, you know.  By the way, should you say that this Mr. Gamble chap was all sorts reliable?”

“Absolutely,” Courtney emphatically assured him.

“Ow,” returned Eugene reflectively.  “And his solicitor fellow, Loring?”

“Perfectly trustworthy.”

“Ow,” commented Eugene, and fell into a study so deep that Courtney was able to escape without being missed.

In the library, where he went to ring for a servant, he found Constance Joy looking gloomily out of a window, with a magazine upside down in her hands.  She immediately rose.

“Don’t let me disturb you,” begged Courtney as he rang the bell.  “Do you know where I can find Johnny Gamble?”

“I really couldn’t say,” replied Constance sweetly.  “I left him out in the gardens a few minutes ago.”  And she made for the door, confident that she had not spoken with apparent haste, embarrassment or coldness.

“Won’t you please tell him that Joe Close and Morton Washer and Colonel Bouncer are coming out on the next train?” requested Courtney.  “You’re sure to see him by and by, I know.”

“With pleasure,” lied Constance miserably, and hurried to finish her escape.  At the door, however, she suddenly turned and came back, walking nonchalantly but hastily out through the windows upon the side porch.  A second later Paul Gresham and Billy Wobbles, the latter walking with temperamental knees, passed through the hall.

Courtney looked after Constance in perplexity, but, a servant entering, he gave orders for the furnishing of the loggia and went up to make sure of the arrangements.  He found Johnny Gamble in moody solitude, studying with deep intensity the braiding of his sailor straw hat.

“Hello, Johnny!” hailed Courtney cordially.  “I was just asking Miss Joy about you.”

Johnny looked at him with reproachful eyes.  Courtney was to blame for his present gloom.

“Thanks,” he returned.  “What did she say?”

“Not much,” replied Courtney, smiling slyly.  “She didn’t know where you were, but she’s looking for you.”

“Where is she?” asked Johnny, jumping up with alacrity.

“She just went out on the side porch of the library,” announced Courtney.  “Her message is from me, however.  Washer and Close and the colonel are coming out this noon.”

“Thanks,” replied Johnny starting away.  “Did I understand you to say the side porch of the library?”

A thin-legged figure stopped in the door and twitched.