"I am not sure that we are not all of us a little over-inclined towards compromises.

The sapping away of conscience is so easy." The dining-room door was thrown open, and the butler announced a visitor.
"Colonel Henderson, your lordship." They all turned around in their places.

The colonel, a fine, military-looking figure of a man, shook hands with Lord Maltenby.
"My most profound apologies, sir," he said, as he accepted a chair.

"The Countess was kind enough to say that if I were not able to get away in time for dinner, I might come up afterwards." "You are sure that you have dined ?" "I had something at Mess, thank you." "A glass of port, then ?" The Colonel helped himself from the decanter which was passed towards him and exchanged greetings with several of the guests to whom his host introduced him.
"No raids or invasions, I hope, Colonel ?" the latter asked.
"Nothing quite so serious as that, I am glad to say.

We have had a little excitement of another sort, though.