"But that brings me to a point. I am going down to Brighton early next. The Government are conducting some experiments in connection with a night range-finding instrument I submitted to them a few weeks ago. it will be quite interesting. Battleship firing all over the place, destroyers zipping along out of the darkness and letting fly with white-head torpedoes at illuminated targets, giant explosions shaking the sky. would you all care to come with me?"
"Oh I'd love to ." Mercia's delight was obvious.
"You will be my guests on board the official yacht. you can all come down in my car : start away from here about eight. By half-past ten we can be on board and heading out to the sea. firing begins at midnight. By four in the morning you can be safely tucked up in bed in Greydene here, or I can book you a suite if rooms at Brighton."
"It all sounds too thrilling for words."
"Can I make it a definite date then?"
"So far as i am concerned, yes by all means. And I think mother would be delighted to come too. it isn't every day one gets the chance of seeing the Navy doing things in its own little duck-run, is it?". Mercia's eyes were sparkling at the thought of a really novel and exciting adventure.
"And your father-----wont't Mr. Lyall come too?"
"Well, I can hardly speak for dad: I don't know what his arrangements are. He goes out sometimes to his bridge parties. Positively indecent, some of the hours he keeps. come crawling home with the milk sometimes without it, if his luck's been out. But old dad doesn't mind: he"s a good loser."
Mercia was looking smilingly up at the ceiling when she said that. But it would have been all the same had she been looking directly in his eyes. valmon Dain took it without the flickering and eyelid.
"perhaps he----he might be persuaded," he said in a soft smooth voice. "I'd hardly like to take his two very precious ladies away to see battleship firing off big guns at night unless he were there with you. Don't you think?"
" Just half a moment. He's having a few practice shots on his own at the table. I'll go and fetch him. perhaps your silver tongue may be able to paint the picture if a night at sea so engagingly that he will come even at the expense of his beloved bridge. it's his only vice, so we have to indulge him a little in it." she ran gaily out of the room and returned in a few moments dragging her father behind.
Lyall was smiling good naturedly, and he winked at Dain as father do wink when they presume a common understanding among men where vivacious daughters are concerned.
"Here he is ," said Mercia peremptorily. "A trifle recalcitrant, but still here he is. Now Mr. Dain, you just tell pops all you've told me and if he isn't as excited and eager as I am, I'll never let him play bridge again as long as I live."
Lyall shook hands with him warmly.
"What's all this good news Mr. Dain?" he inquired . "Mercia has grabbed a string of exciting incoherences me , but I'm afraid i didn't quite gather all she inferred."
valmon Dain explain in full detail and extended his investigation to him to join them.
Lyall looked thoughtful.
"I'm," he muttered. "Battleship practice, eh? using one of your extraordinary inventions? sounds awfully interesting but when do you say it it?"
"on Monday."
"That is, beginning at midnight on Monday?"
"Yes. I'll call for you here at eight o'clock in the car."
"And we won't be getting back back untill---?"
"About four in the morning."
"Tuesday morning?"
"Naturally."
"I'm awfully sorry, Mr Dain. I'd thoroughly enjoy such a unique trip , but I------er-----I'm afraid i can't manage it. The ladies can accompany you with all the pleasure in the world."
"Oh, but really dad!" Mercia was pouting.
"I'm sorry my dear but I can't help it. To accompany you would mean breaking another engagement. And I have made it a rule never to break a previous engagement in order to keep a subsequent one."
"Then I too am sorry Mr Lyall and I think you will regret having missed a very interesting trip," said Dain.
"I'm sure I shall . But there it is a promise is a promise."
"Can't you break it just this once dad?" asked Mercia.
"This," said Lyall grimly, " happens to be the 'once' when I can't." Dain was watching him with eyes that were cold as marble of ice. Lyall flushed perceptibly when he made his answer.
For two electric seconds the men looked hard into each other's eyes. then Valmon Dain, with a shrug and a slight rising if the eyebrows looked away.
He pretended a very natural regret, a regret into which was fused just a little carelessness. Lyall hadn't said very much but what e had said was uttered in such a tone of frigid finality that Dain had no need to look further than the end of his nose for the answer to the questions that were drumming in his head.
"I'm sorry ," he said standing up. "it's dreadfully late and I won't detain you any longer."
"can I phone and get you a taxi?" asked Lyall smoothly.
"No I have one waiting outside."
"Doest this mean that you won't be taking us?" asked Mercia with a pout of disappointment.
"I'm afraid so ," said Dain gravely. "I really wouldn't care to take you unless Mr Lyall come too. But perhaps we can fix up some other interesting expedition----one night when Mr Lyall is not-----er-----playing cards."
He made his graceful adieus and drove back to the city with his head in a whirl of doubt, incredulity and cynical bitterness.