CHAPTER XLII.
"CAN YOU BE READY IN TEN MINUTES?"
After leaving Melmotte's house on Sunday morning Paul Montague went to Roger Carbury's hotel and found his friend just returning from church. He was bound to go to Islington on that day, but had made up his mind that he would defer his visit till the evening. He would dine early and be with Mrs. Hurtle about seven o'clock. But it was necessary that Roger should hear the news about Ruby Ruggles. "It's not so bad as you thought," said he, "as she is living with her aunt."
"I never heard of such an aunt."
"She says her grandfather knows where she is, and that he doesn't want her back again."
"Does she see Felix Carbury?"
"I think she does," said Paul.
"Then it doesn't matter whether the woman's her aunt or not. I'll go and see her and try to get her back to Bungay."
"Why not send for John Crumb?"
Roger hesitated for a moment, and then answered, "He'd give Felix such a thrashing as no man ever had before. My cousin deserves it as well as any man ever deserved a thrashing; but there are reasons why I should not like it. And he could not force her back with him. I don't suppose the girl is all bad,—if she could see the truth."