At the end of the meal she withdrew with the warning that they were not to sit too long over their wine, and that Miles was not to fatigue his lordship.

O’Hara pushed the decanter towards his friend.

“I’ve a piece of news I daresay will interest ye!” he remarked.

Carstares looked at him inquiringly.

“Ay. ’Tis that his Grace of Andover has withdrawn his precious person to Paris.”

Carstares raised one eyebrow.

“I suppose he would naturally wish to remain in the background after our little fracas.”

“Does he ever wish to be in the background?”

“You probably know him better than I do. Does he?”