do stay, won’t you. Everything is quite ready — there is always somebody here — I always put people up — I love having the house crowded.’

‘But there are only two rooms,’ said the Pussum, in a cold, hostile voice, ‘now Rupert’s here.’

‘I know there are only two rooms,’ said Halliday, in his odd, high way of speaking. ‘But what does that matter?’

He was smiling rather foolishly, and he spoke eagerly, with an insinuating determination.

‘Julius and I will share one room,’ said the Russian in his discreet, precise voice. Halliday and he were friends since Eton.

‘It’s very