‘We may speak now,’ said his fellow-traveller, at length; ‘the post-boys can neither see nor hear us.’
‘That’s not Hunter’s voice!’—thought Alexander, astonished.
‘Dear Lord Peter!’ said Miss Julia, most winningly: putting her arm on Mr. Trott’s shoulder. ‘Dear Lord Peter. Not a word?’
‘Why, it’s a woman!’ exclaimed Mr. Trott, in a low tone of excessive wonder.
‘Ah! Whose voice is that?’ said Julia; ‘’tis not Lord Peter’s.’
‘No,—it’s mine,’ replied Mr. Trott.
‘Yours!’ ejaculated Miss Julia Manners; ‘a strange man! Gracious heaven! How came you here!’
‘Whoever you are, you might have known that I came against my will, ma’am,’ replied Alexander, ‘for I made noise enough when I got in.’
‘Do you come from Lord Peter?’ inquired Miss Manners.
‘Confound Lord Peter,’ replied Trott pettishly. ‘I don’t know any Lord Peter. I never heard of him before to-night, when I’ve been Lord Peter’d by one and Lord Peter’d by another, till I verily believe I’m mad, or dreaming—’