In a minute Sir Wilfrid was back in the room, his face white
beneath its tan and his eyes dilated with excitement.

"By Gad, it's true!"

His agitation was unmistakably genuine, and his hearers started
forward in a thrill of awakened interest.

Collapsing into an armchair he continued breathlessly: "I found
him dozing in the smoking-room, and called out to him to come for
his tea. He blinked at me in his usual way, and I said, 'Come on,
Toby; don't keep us waiting;' and, by Gad! he drawled out in a
most horribly natural voice that he'd come when he dashed well
pleased! I nearly jumped out of my skin!"

Appin had preached to absolutely incredulous hearers; Sir
Wilfrid's statement carried instant conviction. A Babel-like
chorus of startled exclamation arose, amid which the scientist sat
mutely enjoying the first fruit of his stupendous discovery.

In tile midst of the clamour Tobermory entered the room and made
his way with velvet tread and studied unconcern across to the
group seated round the tea-table.

A sudden hush of awkwardness and constraint fell on the company.
Somehow there seemed an element of embarrassment in addressing on
equal terms a domestic cat of acknowledged dental ability.

"Will you have some milk, Tobermory?" asked Lady Blemley in a
rather strained voice.