"Not a bit of it, by Jove. I am quite satisfied to let it go at that. We
will have another go some time."

"Any time that suits you--to-morrow, eh?"

"To-morrow be it," said the Englishman.

"Now, then, Stillwell," said Captain Jack, with a curt nod at him.
"Whenever you are ready."

"Oh, come, Maitland. I was only joshing, you know. You don't want
to play with me to-day," said Stillwell, not relishing the look on
Maitland's face. "We can have a set any time."

"No!" said Maitland shortly. "It's now or never."

"Oh, all right," said Stillwell, with an uneasy laugh, going into the
Club house for his racquet.

The proposed match had brought a new atmosphere into the Club house, an
atmosphere of contest with all the fun left out.

"I don't like this at all," said a man with iron grey hair and deeply
tanned face.

"One can't well object, Russell," said a younger man, evidently a friend
of Stillwell's. "Maitland brought it on, and I hope he gets mighty well
trimmed. He is altogether too high and mighty these days."