"You see," he added colouring, "I am going second and have to spend as little as possible.

Indeed I have brought some food with me in a basket so that I shall not need to buy any meals at the stations." Miss Ogilvy was touched, but laughed the matter off in her charming way, saying that he would have to be careful that the Custom-house officers did not think he was smuggling something in his basket, and as she knew them all must look to her to help him if he got into difficulties on the journey.

Then she went on chatting and drawing him out, and what is more, made him take several glasses of some delicious white wine she was drinking.

It was not very strong wine, but except for a little small beer, practically Godfrey had been brought up as a teetotaller for economy's sake, and it went to his head.

He became rather effusive; he told her of Sir John Blake about whom she seemed to know everything already, and something of his friendship with Isobel, who, he added, was coming out that very night at a fancy dress ball in London.
"I know," said Miss Ogilvy, "at the de Lisles' in Grosvenor Square.