"What's the next train, Reg?"
"1.50."
"Well, we'll go by that. But, come here, I have something to show you," said Hal, leading the way to their room, and producing the stick.
"My God! the stick," cried Reg, and taking it in his hands, looked as if he could have smashed it to a thousand pieces.
Hal left him, thinking it was better for him to be alone with the bitter reflections the sight of the stick had caused.
When the girls left the train they did not go to a hotel, but to a boarding-house near the station. Several rough-looking men were loitering about the door and on the step sat a dirty, fat woman.
"Good-evening, missus. Got any beds?" said Hil.
"Yes, come in, gentlemen. What price do you want. I've got 'em from sixpence to eighteen-pence."
"Let's see the eighteenpennys, then."
"This way," said she, leading them along a long passage. "Here you are, a fine double-bed fit for a hemperor," and she flung open a door on which "Privit" was marked.