The fact is that his lordship was in an exceedingly bad humour.

Having written jubilantly home to the Secretary of State that his mission had succeeded, he was now faced with the necessity of writing again to confess that this success had been ephemeral.

And because Major Mallard's crisp mostachios were lifted by a sneer at the notion of a buccaneer's word being acceptable, he added still more sharply: "My justification is here in the person of Colonel Bishop safely returned.

As against that, sir, your opinion does not weigh for very much.

You should realize it." "Oh, as your lordship says." Major Mallard's manner was tinged with irony.