“May be she has,” returned Peace, carelessly. “People in this world soon forget those who have rendered them a service; but let that pass. She’s the earl’s grand-daughter, I suppose, and it is not at all likely she’d care to remember or recognise me.”
“Ah!” ejaculated Brickett, looking hard at his companion, “I suppose not.”
There was a murmur from many voices and a shuffling of feet.
Blondin was about to go through his performance on the high rope.
Peace and Brickett left the Pompeian-court and took up the best position they could to witness the hero of Niagara go through his marvellous feats.
The worthy host of the “Carved Lion” stood spellbound with astonishment.
He declared he “had never seen anything like it in his life, and that it quite surpassed his expectation.”
Peace was of the same opinion.
When Blondin had finished the two made their way to one of the refreshment-bars, and had some cold meat and ale, which Brickett would insist on paying for, after which he bade our hero a hasty adieu, saying that he had to catch the train which was to take him down to Broxbridge.
Before parting he was very profuse in his protestations of friendship, and then he extorted a promise from Peace that he would very shortly pay another visit to the “Carved Lion.”