Lopez and Happerton fell into city conversation, and Sir Damask tried to amuse himself with Mr.Wharton.But the task was hopeless,--as it always is when the elements of a party have been ill-mixed.

Mr.Wharton had not even heard of the new Aldershot coach which Sir Damask had just started with Colonel Buskin and Sir Alfonso Blackbird.

And when Sir Damask declared that he drove the coach up and down twice a week himself, Mr.Wharton at any rate affected to believe that such a thing was impossible.

Then when Sir Damask gave his opinion as to the cause of the failure of a certain horse at Northampton, Mr.Wharton gave him no encouragement whatever.

"I never was at a racecourse in my life," said the barrister.