CHAPTER XII 

SHALL A MAN ESCAPE HIS FATE? 

On the way to the Danish Legation, Colonel Harris asked Luke what his plans were for the evening. 

"I shall," replied Luke, "call at Grosvenor Square. I may find Uncle Rad, or Philip, or both at home. I mean to have a good tussle about this wintering abroad. It's really most important." 

"I call it criminal," retorted Colonel Harris, "keeping a man in London who has been used to go south in the winter for the past twenty years at least." 

"Uncle Rad is still fairly well now, though I do think he looks more feeble than usual. He ought to go at once." 

"But," suggested Louisa, "he oughtn't to go alone." 

"No. He certainly ought not." 

"Would Mr. de Mountford go with him?" 

"I don't think so." 

"This new man of his, then?" 

"That," said Luke hotly, "would be madness. The man is really a drunkard." 

"But somebody ought to go." 

"Edie would be only too willing--if she is allowed." 

"Edie?" exclaimed Louisa. 

And she added with a smile: 

"What will Reggie Duggan have to say to that?" 

"Nothing," he replied quietly. "Reggie Duggan has cried off." 

"You don't mean that." 

"He has given up Edie who has little or nothing a year, and become engaged to Marian Montagu who has eight thousand pounds a year of her own." 

"Poor Edie!" murmured Louisa, whilst Colonel Harris's exclamation was equally to the point and far more forcible, and more particularly concerned the Honourable Reginald Duggan. 
who agreed with her ?
Colonel Harris