At this moment Lady Bassett looked up and saw a woman watching her over the rail of a corridor on the first floor. She recognized the face directly. The woman made her a rapid signal, and then disappeared into one of the rooms.
“Would there be any objection to our going upstairs, Mr. Coyne?” said Lady Bassett, with a calm voice and a heart thumping violently.
“Oh, none whatever. I'll conduct you; but then, I am afraid I must leave you for a time.”
He showed her upstairs, blew a whistle, handed her over to an attendant, and bowed and smiled himself away grotesquely.
Jones was the very keeper she had feed last visit. She flushed with joy at sight of bull-necked, burly Jones. “Oh, Mr. Jones!” said she, putting her hands together with a look that might have melted a hangman.
Jones winked, and watched Mr. Coyne out of sight.
“I have seen your ladyship's maid,” said Jones, confidentially. “It is all right. Mr. Coyne have got the blinkers on. Only pass me your word not to excite him.”
“Oh no, sir, I will soothe him.” And she trembled all over.
“Sally!” cried Jones.
The nurse came out of a room and held the door ajar; she whispered, “I have prepared him, madam; he is all right.”