CHAPTER XIT

ORDFAL BY SIIAREHOLDFR

REPAIRING, next day, to the Aeroplane Club, where,
notably spruce, Sir Lawrence was waiting in the lounge,
Michael thought: ' Good old Bart! he's got himself up
for the guillotine all right!'

" That white piping will show the blood !" he said.
" Old Forsyte's neat this morning, but not so gaudy."
" Ah! How is c Old Forsyte ' ? In good heart ? "
" One doesn't ask him, sir. How do you feel yourself ? "
" Exactly as I used to before the Eton and Winchester
match. I think I shall have shandy-gaff at lunch."
When they had taken their seats. Sir Lawrence went on :
" I remember seeing a man tried for murder in Colombo ;
the poor fellow was positively blue. I think my favourite
moment in the p:ist, Michael, is Walter Raleigh asking for a
second shirt. Ey the way, it's never been properly settled
yet whether the courtiers of that day were lousy, What
are you going to have, my dear fellow ? "
" Cold beef, pickled walnuts, and gooseberry tart."
" Excellent for the character. I shall have curry ; they
give you a very good Bombay duck here, I rather fancy
we shall be fire d, Michael. ' Nous sommes trahis !' used to be
the prerogative of the French, but I'm afraid we're getting
the attitude, loo. The Yellow Press has made a difference."
Michael sLook his head.
" We say it, but we don't act on it; the climate's too

uncertain."