He rejected the suggestion with scorn.

"No!" he said. "I am not such an idiot as that. All the same there
is the feeling. They don't care to play bridge with me. There is
only young Engleton who takes my part, and so far as playing bridge
for money is concerned, he would be worth the whole lot put together
if only I could get him away from them--make up a little party
somewhere, and have him to myself for a week or two."

The Princess was thoughtful.

"To go abroad at this time of the year," she remarked, "is almost
impossible. Besides, you have only just come back."

"Absolutely impossible," he answered. "Besides, I shouldn't care to
do it just now. It looks like running away. A week or so ago you
were talking of taking a villa down the river. I wondered whether
you had thought any more of it."

The Princess shook her head.

"I dare not," she answered. "I have gone already further than I
meant to. This house and the servants and carriages are costing me a
small fortune. I dare not even look at my bills. Another house is
not to be thought of."

Major Forrest looked gloomily at the shining tip of his patent boot.

"It's jolly hard luck," he muttered. "A quiet place somewhere in the
country, with Engleton and you and myself, and another one or two,