"Well, James?"
"A letter, captain," said James, "marked 'immediate.'"
The captain took it.
Jem left the room.
"Pray, do not mind us," said Mrs. Mildmay, and, with a bow, the captain took out his letter, which he had thrust into his pocket.
He was almost on the point of returning into the hiding place, for at a glance he saw that it was only a sham one—an old envelope sealed up.
However, with his usual quickness, he decided to open it, and, accordingly, made a slight fuss with the seal, and, taking out a piece of paper, read:
"The pleece inspector's cum down to-day."
Captain Murpoint smiled.
"Business, my dear madam; business men always mark their letters 'immediate,'" and he thrust the letter into his pocket, and commenced talking as if the matter were of no moment.