THE SILVER FOX 3 



along a wire. Even at that distance they 

 seemed to Slaney over-dressed and artificial. 

 No doubt they were screaming inanities to 

 each other, as were these other English idiots 

 in the room behind her. How ineffably 

 stupid they were, and how shy and pro- 

 vincial they made her feel 1 How could 

 Hugh have married into such a pack ? 



One of the double doors at the end of 

 the room opened, and a small, dark man 

 appeared. 



" Awfully sorry to have kept you all 

 waiting," he said abjectly. " I'm afraid 

 it's a bad business ; they say that there's 

 nothing to be had here on Sundays 

 at this time of year, unless it's ordered 

 beforehand." 



" Oh Lord!" ejaculated Lady Susan, bring- 

 ing her foot and the shovel down with a 

 crash. " Do you mean to say there's nothing 

 to eat ? " 



" It's not quite as bad as that, but precious 

 nearly," he replied, looking at her so deplor- 

 ably that Slaney felt inclined to laugh. 



