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 object of convenient size to hurl at the head of the offending cavaliere servente. Observing her intention, he skulked towards the door, slipping through the aperture just in time to avoid contact with a Spanish pewter candlestick of considerable size and weight. Herbert Ringrose had warned in vain: Look out, Imperia! That isn't yucca wood.

Immediately after Jaime's enforced departure, Imperia gave vent to a brilliant fit of hysterics.

What a day! What a day! she moaned.

There, there, dearie. Soothing her, Mama Starling led her charge from the room.

Herbert Ringrose did not appear to have observed that anything untoward had occurred. He approached Ambrose with a hearty, disarming directness.

It's all settled now, my boy. One o'clock tomorrow. . . . Ambrose recoiled automatically before the inevitable slap on the shoulder. . . . You're in luck. Lee never did this for anybody before. I'm glad he did it for you. It would be too bad for a man of your ability to tie up with a second-class affair like L.L.B. They're all wet. Well, so long, he added blithely. I'll see you tomorrow at twelve-thirty, Deacon.