not censorious, but—well, that fine at Bow Street?'
'I was a mere boy,' said I, with some warmth, 'and my solicitor grossly mismanaged the case.'
'Well, well!' said he soothingly. 'But haven't you spent a great deal of time at Monte Carlo?'
'A man must be somewhere,' said I.
Rhadamanthus scratched his nose.
'I should have wasted the money anyhow,' I added.
'I suppose you would,' he conceded. 'But what of this caveat lodged by the Dowager Lady Mickleham? That's rather serious, you know; isn't it now—joking apart?'
'I am disappointed,' I remarked, 'to find a man of your experience paying any attention to such an ill-natured old woman.'
'We have our rules,' he replied, 'and I'm afraid, Mr. Carter, that until that caveat is removed
'You don't mean that?'
'Really, I'm afraid so.'
'Then I may as well go back,' said I, taking my hat.
At this moment there was a knock at the door.
'Although I can't oblige you with an order of admission,' said Rhadamanthus very civilly, 'perhaps it would amuse you to listen to a case or two. There's no hurry, you know. You've got lots of time before you.'
'It will be an extremely interesting experience,' said I, sitting down again.
