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"That's right," said Berry. "Be rude. That's what I get for entertaining your friends."

"They weren't my friends," shrieked Daphne.

"Well, Adèle's then," said Berry. "Who sat around in their flat and lapped them up? Who came back and said they were diplomats?" He raised his eyes to heaven and covered his face. "Diplomats! Give me strength."

"You thought they were, too," cried Jill. "You know you did. And when they hung back, you pressed them to come to supper and said we'd be all alone."

My brother-in-law frowned.

"I had no option," he said stiffly. "My hand was forced--as usual. And now I'll tell you something. I never liked the man."

The suggestio falsi was received with a storm of disapproval to which its author listened with a pitying smile. As it died down--

"If that's the case," said I, "why didn't you give us the tip?"

"Why argue with the brute?" said Daphne. "It's a wicked lie, and he knows it. Oh, and if you were so suspicious, why did you drink the wine?"

Her husband shrugged his shoulders.