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success； and then Fate intervened on his behalf。 There
was a low stone bridge just over this pool； and on the
last day of his fishing holiday a motor van ran violently
into the parapet and turned completely over； no one was
hurt； but part of the parapet was knocked away； and the
entire load that the van was carrying was pitched over
and fell a little way into the pool。 In a couple of
minutes the giant trout was flapping and twisting on bare
mud at the bottom of a waterless pool； and my uncle was
able to walk down to him and fold him to his breast。 The
van…load consisted of blotting…paper； and every drop of
water in that pool had been sucked up into the mass of
spilt cargo。〃
There was silence for nearly half a minute in the
smoking…room； and Treddleford began to let his mind steal
back towards the golden road that led to Samarkand。
Amblecope； however； rallied； and remarked in a rather
tired and dispirited voice：
〃Talking of motor accidents； the narrowest squeak I
ever had was the other day； motoring with old Tommy Yarby
in North Wales。 Awfully good sort； old Yarby； thorough
good sportsman； and the best … 〃
〃It was in North Wales；〃 said Treddleford； 〃that my
sister met with her sensational carriage accident last
year。 She was on her way to a garden…party at Lady
Nineveh's； about the only garden…party that ever comes to
pass in those parts in the course of the year； and
therefore a thing that she would have been very sorry to
miss。 She was driving a young horse that she'd only
bought a week or two previously； warranted to be
perfectly steady with motor traffic； bicycles； and other
common objects of the roadside。 The animal lived up to
its reputation； and passed the most explosive of motor…
bikes with an indifference that almost amounted to
apathy。 However； I suppose we all draw the line
somewhere； and this particular cob drew it at travelling
wild beast shows。 Of course my sister didn't know that；
but she knew it very distinctly when she turned a sharp
corner and found herself in a mixed company of camels；
piebald horses； and canary…coloured vans。 The dogcart
was overturned in a ditch and kicked to splinters； and
the cob went home across country。 Neither my sister nor
the groom was hurt； but the problem of how to get to the
Nineveh garden…party； some three miles distant； seemed
rather difficult to solve； once there； of course； my
sister would easily find some one to drive her home。 'I
suppose you wouldn't care for the loan of a couple of my
camels？' the showman suggested； in humorous sympathy。 '
I would；' said my sister； who had ridden camel…back in
Egypt； and she overruled the objections of the groom； who
hadn't。 She picked out two of the most presentable…
looking of the beasts and had them dusted and made as
tidy as was possible at short notice； and set out for the
Nineveh mansion。 You may imagine the sensation that her
small but imposing caravan created when she arrived at
the hall door。 The entire garden…party flocked up to
gape。 My sister was rather glad to slip down from her
camel； and the groom was thankful to scramble down from
his。 Then young Billy Doulton； of the Dragoon Guards；
who has been a lot at Aden and thinks he knows camel…
language backwards； thought he would show off by making
the beasts kneel down in orthodox fashion。 Unfortunately
camel words…of…command are not the same all the world
over； these were magnificent Turkestan camels； accustomed
to stride up the stony terraces of mountain passes； and
when Doulton shouted at them they went side by side up
the front steps； into the entrance hall； and up the grand
staircase。 The German governess met them just at the
turn of the corridor。 The Ninevehs nursed her with
devoted attention for weeks； and when I last heard from
them she was well enough to go about her duties again；
but the doctor says she will always suffer from Hagenbeck
heart。〃
Amblecope got up from his chair and moved to another
part of the room。 Treddleford reopened his book and
betook himself once more across
The dragon…green； the luminous； the dark； the
serpent…haunted sea。
For a blessed half…hour he disported himself in
imagination by the 〃gay Aleppo…Gate；〃 and listened to the
bird…voiced singing…man。 Then the world of to…day called
him back； a page summoned him to speak with a friend on
the telephone。
As Treddleford was about to pass out of the room he
encountered Amblecope； also passing out； on his way to
the billiard…room； where； perchance； some luckless wight
might be secured and held fast to listen to the number of
his attendances at the Grand Prix； with subsequent
remarks on Newmarket and the Cambridgeshire。 Amblecope
made as if to pass out first； but a new…born pride was
surging in Treddleford's breast and he waved him back。
〃I believe I take precedence；〃 he said coldly； 〃you
are merely the club Bore； I am the club Liar。〃
THE ELK
TERESA； Mrs。 Thropplestance； was the richest and
most intractable old woman in the county of Woldshire。
In her dealings with the world in general her manner
suggested a blend between a Mistress of the Robes and a
Master of Foxhounds； with the vocabulary of both。 In her
domestic circle she comported herself in the arbitrary
style that one attributes； probably without the least
justification； to an American political Boss in the bosom
of his caucus。 The late Theodore Thropplestance had left
her； some thirty…five years ago； in absolute possession
of a considerable fortune； a large landed property； and a
gallery full of valuable pictures。 In those intervening
years she had outlived her son and quarrelled with her
elder grandson； who had married without her consent or
approval。 Bertie Thropplestance； her younger grandson；
was the heir…designate to her property； and as such he
was a centre of interest and concern to some half…hundred
ambitious mothers with daughters of marriageable age。
Bertie was an amiable； easy…going young man； who was
quite ready to marry anyone who was favourably
recommended to his notice； but he was not going to waste
his time in falling in love with anyone who would come
under his grandmother's veto。 The favourable
recommendation would have to come from Mrs。
Thropplestance。
Teresa's house…parties were always rounded off with
a plentiful garnishing of presentable young women and
alert； attendant mothers； but the old lady was
emphatically discouraging whenever any one of her girl
guests became at all likely to outbid the others as a
possible granddaughter…in…law。 It was the inheritance of
her fortune and estate that was in question； and she was
evidently disposed to exercise and enjoy her powers of
selection and rejection to the utmost。 Bertie's
preferences did not greatly