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Withyham.”
    “I shan’t be gone, Pleydell.”
    “Look here,” said Berry. “We both of us know the law. If a private road is not closed for twenty-one years, the right to close it is lost and all His Majesty’s subjects may use it whenever they please. In this case, before you bought Bluecoat, the right to close Romany Lane was lost for good. That right, you cannot revive. And if you seek to revive it, by closing the lane, the parish won’t stand it, Withyham – and that’s the truth.”
    “What you mean is you won’t stand it?”
    “No, I don’t,” said Berry. “But sides will have to be taken, and we shall take that of the parish, because you are doing something which you have no right to do.”
    “We’ll see about that,” said Withyham. “You’d better get out your hat. It costs quite a lot to go to the House of Lords.”
    Berry looked out of the window and fingered his chin.
    “Bad show, Withyham,” he said.
    “What the devil d’you mean?”
    “What I say. You know you’ve no case: but you know you’ve got the money – which we have not. And you’re counting upon your money to weight us out of the race.”
    At the third attempt—
    “Have you anything more to say?”
    “Any amount,” said Berry. “But we’ve got to be getting on.” I turned, to open the door. “Funny thing, you know. The last time I was in this chamber, Jim Ferrers was speaking of you. ‘He should be all right,’ he said. Well, there we are. Don’t bother to see us out.”
    As the car slid down the drive—
    “Was it too awful?” said Daphne.
    “Well, it wasn’t very pleasant,” said Berry. “The impulse to offer him violence was very strong.”
    “My darling,” said I, “I give your husband best. His manner was as fair as Withyham’s was foul.”
    “Let me put it like this,” said Berry. “The man is a vulgar sweep. When he spoke of the vicar, he called him ‘that snivelling priest’.”
    “He didn’t!” – incredulously.
    “He did, indeed. He gave offence every time he opened his mouth. I don’t wonder he mucks in with Germans – they’d just about suit his book. Indeed, I can hardly believe that he is his father’s son.”
    “What’s the matter with him?” said Daphne.
    “God knows. He’s just aggressive. Can’t live and let live. Basil, Baron Withyham, would be improved by death.”
    “Can’t he see that he’s cutting his throat by taking this line?”
    “I don’t know that he is. Very few people have him more than once. And now let’s dismiss the matter.”
    “In a moment,” said I. “Daphne’s a right to hear your Parthian shaft.”
    “Ah,” said Berry. “I think I got back there.”
    When I told Daphne, she put her hands to her mouth.
    “He’ll never forgive you,” she said.
    “I can think of few things more gorge-raising,” said Berry, “than to be forgiven by Withyham.” He lifted his voice. “Stop at the next pub, Jonah. I want to clean my teeth.”
     
    Lunch was nearly over, and fruit was being served, when the butler brought in a parrot and set him upon the table by Geoffrey Majoribanks’ side.
    “Let me present,” said Geoffrey, “The Evil One. He always comes into dessert, and he likes it very much when strangers are here.”
    Daphne looked at her hostess.
    “Why the misnomer?” she said.
    “Because of his eye,” said Diana. “He’s really as good as gold, but he looks a rogue.”
    The Evil One surveyed the company.
    “There you are,” said Berry. “He’s seeking whom he may devour.”
    The Evil One looked at the speaker. Then, with deliberate steps, he rounded a dish of plums and, avoiding a silver cream-jug, made for where Berry sat.
    Diana Majoribanks began to shake with laughter.
    “He’s quite all right,” said Geoffrey.
    “Oh, I’m sure of that,” said Berry. “Beautiful beak he’s got, hasn’t he? Well, Lucifer, what d’you know?”
    The parrot regarded him straitly.
    Then—
    “Damn your eyes,” it said.
    As soon as