“I hope the fellow won't put us in his book,” said Temple. “You are never quite safe with these sort of people.”
“Are we worth recording?” asked Jack, with a laugh.
Temple was too indignant to make any answer, and Cutbill went on: “The authorship is only a suspicion of mine, remember. It was from seeing him constantly jotting down little odds and ends in his note-book that I came to that conclusion; and Frenchmen are not much given to minute inquiries if they have not some definite object in view.”
Again was Bramleigh's attention arrested; but, as before, he saw that the speaker meant no more than the words in their simplest acceptance conveyed.
A violent ringing of the door-bell startled the company; and after a moment's pause of expectancy a servant entered to say that a Government messenger had arrived with some important despatches for Lord Culduff, which required personal delivery and acceptance.
“Will you step up, Mr. Cutbill, and see if his Lordship is In his room?”
“I'll answer for it he 's not,” said Jack to his father.
Cutbill rose, however, and went on his mission; but instead of returning to the dining-room, it was perceived that he proceeded to find the messenger, and conduct him upstairs.
“Well, Nelly,” said Marion, in a whisper, “what do you say now; is it so certain that it was Lord Culduff you saw this morning?”
“I don't know what to make of it. I was fully as sure as Jack was.”