"And come in to have a quick one," said Coldfoot.
Mr. Higgins nodded.
"And very welcome, I'm sure," said Coldfoot, tapping on the counter with a half-crown.
"The next two are on me, see? I don't like drinking alone. It's not my way."
The barmaid brought two fresh glasses.
"Well," said Mr. Higgins, "here's luck."
"Luck," repeated Coldfoot
And they drank together.
ii
THE HON. ALISTAIR ROCKINGHAM, turning a somewhat tousled head, his bright eyes gleaming from the white pillow, was trying hard to be patient. The man Higgins might even yet return. It was wiser to wait until the banging of the front-door sounded all clear for the evening.
It was hard to be patient. This was the third time in a week that Higgins, on some pretext or other, had got him into bed by nine o'clock in the even
