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did happen the night of the Farringdon ball. You don’t have to, of course, but the more I know of it, the better my chance of helping—somehow, sometime.”
    â€œYou’d be wise to stay clear of it. Not that I’m not grateful, but—”
    â€œBut keep my long nose out of your private affairs, is that it?” Broderick stood, and suddenly very much the aristocrat, said, “Time you was in bed, at all events. You’re properly against the ropes. Forgive my gauche curios——”
    â€œOh, for Lord’s sake, do stop! Of course I want your long nose in this ugly business—provided you don’t complain if it gets snipped off.” Smiling, Adair held out his glass, and Broderick gave a relieved grin and hurried to refill and return it.
    â€œActually, I know quite a lot already,” he said, sitting down again. “You had one evening free in London before trotting back to France, so you accepted the Farringdon invitation. What I hadn’t known was that you were acquainted with this Miss Prior. You being such a dashing, heroic sort of”—he laughed and warded off the cushion that was hurled at him—“sort of fellow, and a lieutenant-colonel to boot. I’m told Miss Prior’s a timid mouse, the kind hostesses have to browbeat their male guests into asking for a dance.”
    Adair sobered. “It’s her first Season, I gather. The prosecuting counsel said that we’d been meeting on the sly, but there’s not a vestige of truth in it. I’d never met the lady before that night. The fact is that I was en route to beg Dorothy Haines-Curtis to dance with me, but I chanced to hear that wart Talbot Droitwich sniggering about “the Prior wallflower” that no sane fellow would dance with. Miss Prior was sitting at the side, and she looked—oh, you know how it is for girls who don’t ‘take.’”
    Broderick nodded. “A sort of helpless desperation. Poor little things. Is that why you asked her to dance?”
    â€œYes. Only she wanted to sit and talk instead. I expected to be bored to tears. But I wasn’t, Toby. It took a few minutes to put her at ease, but I managed to make her laugh, and in no time we were chattering like old friends. She has a delightful sense of humour and quite a charming way of teasing. In fact, I enjoyed being with her, and later I asked to be allowed to take her in to supper.”
    â€œDid you dance with her afterwards?”
    â€œNo. I liked the girl, but I—well, I didn’t want to seem too particular in my attentions. I went into the card-room and threw some dice with Aubrey Suffield, who had the unmitigated gall to try and buy Toreador. I’ve told him repeatedly he’s my favourite saddle-horse and I’ll never sell him, but Suffield said if I cared for the animal I’d sell him now, because when I go back into action I’ll likely get killed and then what will become of him. Damned gloom merchant!”
    Broderick laughed. “You know Suffield. He’ll stop at nothing to get any hack he takes a fancy to, and that dapple-grey of yours is splendid and a strengthy beast besides. Suffield likely wants to enter him in one of the cross-country races he’s always organizing.”
    â€œVery likely, but he’ll never get the chance, and so I told him. If I should turn up my toes, Toreador will go to my brother Hudson, and if Hudson dares sell him to Suffield, I’ll—I’ll come back and haunt him!”
    â€œHudson? I thought you once told me you’d bequeathe him to young Nigel?”
    â€œThat was my intent, though I never told Nigel.” Adair stared rather fixedly at the glass in his hand. “When all this—ghastly business came up, my man of affairs said I must make a will. And—well, poor old Hudson has really worked terribly hard for that Cabinet appointment, and now, thanks to me, he’s lost it. I