He sat down at his own table, rubbed his hands together, and shouted: ‘Where’s the Glamour Girl? Come on, Beautiful. Let’s have a slant at the me-and-you.’

It was at this moment that Dikon, to his unspeakable horror, discovered in himself a liking for Mr Questing.

III

To Dikon’s surprise, Dr Ackrington did not go at once into the attack. Huia brought Mr Questing’s first course and received an offensive leer with a toss of her head. Mrs Claire murmured something to Barbara and they went out together. With an air of secret exultation, Gaunt began to make theatrical conversation with Dikon. The other three men did not utter a word. To Dikon, the tension in the room seemed almost ponderable, but Questing did not appear to notice it. He ate a colossal dinner, became increasingly playful with Huia, and, on her final withdrawal, leant back in his chair, sucked his teeth, produced a cigar case and was about to offer it to Gaunt when at last Dr Ackrington spoke.

‘You did not bring Smith back with you, Mr Questing?’

Questing turned indolently and looked at him. ‘Smith?’ he said. ‘By gum, I meant to ask you about Smith. Hasn’t he come in?’

‘He’s in bed. He’s knocked about and is suffering from shock.’

‘Is that so?’ said Questing very earnestly. ‘By gum, now, I’m sorry to hear that. Suffering from shock, eh? So he would be. So he would be.’

Dr Ackrington drew in his breath with a sharp whistle and by this manoeuvre seemed to gain control of himself.

‘I bet that chap’s annoyed with me,’ Questing added cheerfully, ‘and I don’t blame him. So would I be in his place. It’s the kind of thing that would annoy you, you know. Isn’t it?’

‘Smith appears to find attempted murder distinctly irritating,’ agreed Dr Ackrington.

‘Attempted murder?’ said Questing, opening his eyes very wide. ‘That’s not a very nice way to put it, Doctor. We all of us make mistakes.’

Dr Ackrington uttered a loud oath.

‘Now, now, now,’ Questing chided, ‘what’s biting you? You come out on the verandah, Doc, and we’ll have a little chat.’