McKeith interposed sharply: 'Bridget, Harris is going to stay the night.' 'Ah! at the Bachelors' Quarters,' Lady Bridget smiled with distant calm.

'Of course, Mrs Hensor knows.

I'm sorry I can't ask Mr Harris to dinner at the house this evening.' Now, by the social canons of the Bush, the police inspector, being technically speaking of higher grade than the casual traveller, should have been accepted as a 'parlour visitor.' He would thus have occupied one of the bachelor spare rooms in the Old Humpey and would have joined the Boss and his wife at dinner.

Harris had never before stayed the night at Moongarr, and he had confidently expected to be received with honour.

Thus he regarded Lady Bridget's speech as an insult.
'Oh, I'm not one to force my company where it is not wanted,' he blustered.