The  second  told  him  no  less  concisely  that  Sallie's  claim  to
his  title  and  inheritance  had,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,
been  recognised  and  admitted  as  valid  by  the  Court  of
Chancery,  expressed  Messrs.  Bolder  &  Bolder's  polite  re-
grets over  the  disappointment  which  that  could  not  but
occasion  him,  and  served  to  enclose  a  small  account  of  theirs
against  him,  still  outstanding.  He  put  them  both  in  the
fire  and  hurried  downstairs.
He  was  a  little  late  in  reaching  the  castle,  but  found  the
company  still  in  the  drawing-room;  and,  as  Sallie  came
forward  to  greet  him,  a  little  look  of  belated  contentment
crept  into  her  tired  eyes.
"I'm  glad  you  were  able  to  come,"  was  all  she  said  in
answer  to  his  apologies,  and  turned  to  present  him  to  the
Duchess  of  Dawn,  with  whom  Slyne  was  chatting,  two  very
aristocratic  figures,  the  young  duchess  a  ravishing  picture
in  one  of  Sallie's  Parisian  gowns,  Slyne  elegant  as  always
in  evening  clothes.
Lord  Ingoldsby,  less  perfectly  fitted  and  with  more  than
one  crease  in  his  white  waistcoat,  nodded  indifferently  to


298  THE  WHITE  BLACKBIRD

Carthew  and  intercepted  Sallie  as  she  introduced  the  young
American  to  him.  So  Carthew  turned  to  congratulate  Mr.
Herries  on  his  recovery.  Captain  Dove  and  Mr.  Jobling
had  carefully  avoided  his  eyes.  That  had  been  a  somewhat
awkward  moment  for  all  of  them,  and  Carthew,  although  his
own  conscience  was  clear  as  regarded  the  other  men,  was
glad  that  dinner  was  promptly  announced.
That  was  the  first  time  he  had  seen  the  banquet-hall
under  such  conditions,  and  he  blinked  at  the  vista  dis-
played as  the  big  double  doors  were  drawn  apart.
