CHAPTER XIII.
OVER THE TEA AND THE TOAST The next morning there were, at least, three eventful breakfasts "partaken of," as it was once the fashion to say; one at "The Wilderness," one at the Savoy, and one at the Kyneston town house in Prince's Gate.
When Professor Marmion came down he was a little late, for he had done a long night's work, finishing his lecture-notes to his own satisfaction, or, at least, as nearly as he could get there.

Like all good workers, he was never quite satisfied with what he did.

When the maid had closed the door of the breakfast-room, he looked across the table at his daughter with a twinkle in his eyes, and said: "Niti, before Lord Leighton left last night he had a talk with me, and you were partly the subject of it." "And who might have been the other part of the subject, Dad ?" she asked, with excellently simulated composure.
"That, Niti," he replied slowly, "I expect you know quite as well as I do.

I am inclined to consider myself the victim of something very like a conspiracy." "I think you are quite right, Dad," she replied, with perfect calmness.
"But the chief conspirators were the Fates themselves.

We others only did as we had to do.