"I have nothing to say about it one way or the other," said Hampstead. "I say nothing about it, at any rate now."
"What do you mean by that, John?"
"When I saw how miserable you were at Trafford I did my best to bring you away. But I could only bring you here on an express stipulation that you should not meet George Roden while you were in my house. If you can get my father's consent to your meeting him, then that part of the contract will be over."
"I don't think I made any promise."
"I understand it so."
"I said nothing to papa on the subject,—and I do not remember that I made any promise to you. I am sure I did not."
"I promised for you." To this she was silent. "Are you going to ask him to come here?"
"Certainly not. But if he did come, how could I refuse to see him? I thought that he was here on Saturday, and I told Richard to admit him. I could not send him away from the door."
"I do not think he will come unless he is asked," said Hampstead. Then the conversation was over.
On the following day, at two o'clock, Lord Hampstead again started for Holloway. On this occasion he drove over, and left his trap and servant at the "Duchess of Edinburgh." He was so well known in the neighbourhood now as hardly to be able to hope to enter on the domains of Paradise Row without being recognized. He felt that it was hard that his motions should be watched, telling himself that it was one of the evils belonging to an hereditary nobility; but he must accept this mischief as he did others, and he walked up the street trying to look as though he didn't know that his motions were being watched first from Number Fifteen as he passed it, and then from Number Ten opposite, as he stood at Mrs. Roden's door.