This was done in the first place to excite sympathy, and in the next to gain time.
“We shall have to attend to this man,” said the doctor. “After which you will hand him over to the officers of justice, I presume.”
This last query was addressed to Lady Marvlynn.
“Oh, yes, of course. I suppose so.”
“You have no other alternative, my lady,” said Sir William Leathbridge. “The case is clear enough against him. Some of the articles he has purloined have been taken from his pocket.”
“Ah, just so. Dear me, what an extraordinary thing that a burglary should have been carried out while so many persons were in the house.”
Peace had a plaister put upon his head by his medical attendant, and pretended to be so seriously injured otherwise that he could scarcely walk.
He was left for a few moments in the conservatory, in which were two or three young ladies of the company, who remained, possibly, to have a good look at so celebrated a character, for they felt certain he was celebrated, although none present had the faintest notion who he was.
He crept towards the door of the conservatory, unfastened it, and then flew across the grounds, in the rear of lady Marvlynn’s house.
“He’s gone!” cried the ladies, “gone! We thought he could not move.”