"Yes—I feel queer, though."
"Hold your tongue and you shall be well paid. Talk, and you won't get a farthing. Do you understand that?"
"Yes, Mr. Austin."
"Very well, act on it for to-night—and I'll come and see you to-morrow."
I left his wife getting him to bed. I do not think that the story of the seizure imposed on her, but she pretended to accept it. Probably she was accustomed to his having accidents—the risks of the trade he practiced were considerable. Meanwhile Lacey had been over to the Ford again, and left a written message on the table, saying that Octon had been called to town and would not be back that night. All else could wait till to-morrow. Now I wanted to get back to Breysgate. Lacey, too, was for home, which he could reach quicker by the public road than by coming round through our park. He had put to me no question at all up to now. Just as we were parting he did ask two.
"We didn't bring it off, I gather?"
I shook my head. Most certainly we had not brought it off.
"How did the—the governor behave?"
One speech of "the governor's" had been perhaps a little bitter. That was his right; and the bitterness was in the high manner—as Jenny herself had felt.
"He behaved—perfectly." That description was—from our side—only his due.