XXI. 



ONLY THE MARE. 



When one opens a suspicious-looking envelope and 

 finds something about " ]\Ir. Shopley's respectful com- 

 pliments " on the inside of the flap, the chances are that 

 Mr. Shopley is hungering for what we have Ovid's 

 authority for terming irritaincnta malonmi. Not wish- 

 ing to have my appetite for breakfast spoiled, I did not 

 pursue my researches into a communication of this sort 

 which was amongst my letters on a certain morning in 

 November, but turned over the pile until the familiar 

 caligraphy of Bertie Peyton caught my 6)^6 ; for Bertie 

 was Nellie's brother, and Nellie Peyton, it had been 

 decided, would shortly cease to be Nellie Peyton ; a 

 transformation for which I was the person most respon- 

 sible. Bertie's communication was therefore seized 

 with avidity. It ran as follows : — 



" The Lodge, Holmesdale. 



" My dear Charlie, 



" I sincerely hope that you have no important en- 

 gagements just at present, as I want you down here 

 most particularly. 



