The doctor gave a short laugh; and, with a not altogether steady step, suffered himself to be led down the passage.
Lord Kilcroney imitated the double gesture with his pipe-stem and sprang to his feet.
“Now, glory be to God,” said he, “if I had known there was such a diversion on hand——” Here he seemed suddenly to become aware that Miss Pounce’s presence in the snuggery portended something distinctly unusual. As he stared at her with a flicker of returning acuteness in his amiable eye, she seized the opportunity.
“For God’s sake, my Lord, give me a moment apart.”
He lurched towards her; and she seized him by the lapel of his coat; again he looked at her; caught perhaps something of the urgency of her spirit, and said, in altered tones:
“Wait a minute, me girl, I’ll just drain the tankard to steady my head; and I am with you.”
She got him as far as the window seat in the coffee-room; and then, casting a glance without, exclaimed:
“See for yourself. Turn your eye yonder, and see for yourself.”
Lord Kilcroney flung a bewildered gaze in the direction of her pointed finger; opened his mouth, closed it again and wiped his forehead.
“Jasper! Jasper Standish and a lady, as I live! What the dev——”