That drew a laugh from Jessamy, but he said, after a moment: “You had better flay me. It was my fault—all my fault!”

“I was wondering how long it would be before you contrived to convince yourself that you were to blame,” said Alverstoke caustically. “I haven’t the slightest wish to know how you arrived at such an addlebrained conclusion, so don’t put yourself to the trouble of telling me!