She succeeded in reaching the metropolis in safety.
After paying a short visit to her house in the neighbourhood of Regent-street, and assuring her maid that she was a good deal better for her trip into the country, she set off for the Evalina-road.
She found Charles Peace at home; the time had not arrived for him to sally forth upon his depredating excursions, and he was busily occupied with his mechanical inventions.
“What, Lorrie!” he ejaculated, upon catching sight of his visitor. “Well, I am staggered! What’s up? No true bill found, or what?”
“I didn’t wait for the grand jury, old man,” returned Laura, indulging in a loud laugh.
“Didn’t wait—eh?” returned Peace, looking at the speaker from over his spectacles.
“No, Charlie. Gave ’em the slip, my boy. Ah, it’s been a lesson to me. I’ll take good care never to be caught on the same hook. It’s been a hard fight, but I’ve won, and now——”
“Well, and now, old girl—what now?”
“It won’t do for me to remain in London.”
“Oh, that’s it—eh?”