"I dimly remember having seen, or at least heard of one. It looked like a two-seater carriage with a dashboard, but no horses; nothing in front except the dashboard and a glass windscreen. You steered with a handle instead of a steering-wheel Yes! And it was used by stately ladies who didn't want to travel fast"
Jenny nodded.
"That's it exactly. Grandmother has one, and it still works. But it's never used except on very special occasions. I asked Grandmother what it meant, but she only smiled that peculiar smile and said I should understand in good time. What's more, she told Dawson she would drive herself, because she wanted me as a witness.
"It was broad daylight, not more than half-past eight. Along we went in the electric—'brougham’ Grandmother calls it— with Grandmother sitting bolt upright and never looking more grand, and me sitting bolt upright, eyes ahead, and feeling awful. We got as far as Fleet House, and then turned round in a graceful curve to the main bar of the Dragon's Rest."
Martin Drake was beginning to taste ecstasy.
"Is that the one she usually patronizes?"
"Martin!" said Jenny. Her eyes belied her seraphic countenance.
"I beg your pardon. Go on."
"Of course Grandmother wouldn't let me go in. She stationed me just outside the door. It was Saturday night, and they were pretty noisy. They're not supposed to sing, but the constable doesn't interfere much. A group in one corner were harmonizing on a pirate chantey with a refrain like, 'Skull and bones, skull and bones; ho, the Jolly Roger.' "When Grandmother walked in, every man of them looked up as though he'd seen the hangman. But Grandmother loves—" Jenny's voice poured with bitterness— "how Grandmother loves being the lady of the manor. She raised her hand and said, ‘Please, my good men, be at ease.' Then she beckoned to poor Mr. Puckston.
"I couldn't hear much of what they were saying. Mr. Puckston seemed to be telling her the first bar-parlour was used as a private sitting-room by Sir Henry Merrivale, and H.M. was out, and the door was locked. Of course you can guess how Grandmother dealt with that Mr. Puckston unlocked the door, Grandmother went in; and in a minute Mr. Puckston followed her with a pair of wire-cutters.