which would pass for an assent, while Mannering shot an amused smile in my direction. "I wonder though we saw nothing of him," continued Maitland; "he must have been very near us last night." "He seems to have been everywhere," I answered. "He has the ubiquity of a De Wet," said Mannering. "I hope I shall have a chance of meeting him sometime," I continued grimly. Colonel Maitland chuckled. "Heavens! What a fire-eater you are, Sutgrove. One might almost take you for a sub in a cavalry regiment." I made no answer, and Miss Maitland remarked—"I think that is very unkind of you. You spoke of the Motor Pirate as if you owed him a grudge. I think we all ought to be supremely thankful to him for having made the wettest day we have had this year pass quite pleasantly." Bear him a grudge? I should think I did, but at the same time, I had no intention of confessing the reason, so I said— "Then we'll drink long life and prosperity to him the next time we have a bottle of that same port your father approved so highly last night." Then I turned to the Colonel, and made a clumsy attempt to turn the subject of conversation. "Is your verdict upon my restaurant equally favourable to-day, sir?" Colonel Maitland's eyes twinkled. "I have nothing to regret. As for the port with which we finished, it seems to me the sort of stuff dreams are made of. Do you know that the glass I drank—was it one glass or two?—gave me the most vivid dream I have enjoyed since my childhood?" "Indeed! Let's hear it, Colonel," I replied. "Do tell us," said his daughter, as she rose from her seat, and put her arms coaxingly round her father's neck. "Do tell us like a real, good, kind, old-fashioned parent." The Colonel passed his hand lovingly over his daughter's sunny hair. "Sutgrove and Mannering don't want to hear about an old fellow's silly dreams," he said. "Besides, it was all about the Motor Pirate, and I can see that Sutgrove for one is quite sick of the subject." I was, and I wasn't, but I speedily
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