“Do you mean to say that anybody could get in by paying?” the consultant asked.
Sarah shook her head.
“I don’t know that anybody could. But there didn’t seem to be much difficulty. I think it was pretty well known, in Chelsea and in Kensington, that you could buy a ticket from Madame Bonnell. She made a great favour of it, but I expect that was only to keep up the price.”
“What was the price?”
“Five pounds. She entered your name in a book, and the name of some member of the Club who was supposed to be introducing you; but whether it was a real name or not I don’t know.”
Tarleton smiled grimly.
“I’m beginning to understand why Madame made so much fuss over giving up her books. She must have made a good thing out of the Club in one way and another. Did she know who you were?”
“Oh, no! At least, I didn’t tell her. I gave my name as Mrs. Antrobus.”
“I remember that name in the Visitors’-book,” I put in.
My chief nodded. “Did she say anything to you about the disguise you were to come in?”