But for a long while he had no opportunity of beginning the rubber.

A fortnight wore away, and nothing was done.

Ayre determined to wait on events no longer; he would try his hand at shaping them.
"I wonder if Rick is too great a fool ?" he said to himself meditatively one morning, as he crossed one of the little bridges, and took his way to the Kurhaus in search of his friend.

"I must try him." He found Lord Rickmansworth alone, but quite content.

It was one of his happy characteristics that he existed with delight under almost any circumstances.