Nellie looked as if she were going to refuse, but when she spoke she spoke quite definitely: “I’ll take him,” she said.
“Thank you,” said Overton, and left the room.
In his library he found Vickers standing on the hearthrug, though there was no fire in the chimney-place. His head was bent and he was vaguely chinking some coins in his pocket.
“Well, Vickers,” said his host coolly, “I have a disagreeable piece of news for you. Emmons, it seems, has telegraphed for a warrant, and does not intend to let you go until he gets it, but possibly he won’t be prepared for your slipping away at once. There’s a train at five-ten. Do you care to try it?”
Vickers looked up, as if the whole matter were of very small interest to him. “There does not seem to be anything else to do, does there?” he said.
“Of course, my offer of a position is still open to you.”
“I can’t stay in this country with Emmons on my heels. They’d lock me up in a minute.”
“You have never heard anything further about your case, have you?”
“Not a word. There wasn’t much to hear, I expect. I suppose I had better be going.”
“Your bags are at the Lees’ still, aren’t they?”