‘Indeed, but she did, sir, my Lord, and that’s what worked on my daughter, though I always told her not to believe any such nonsense; but then you see, she couldn’t get her passage paid to go out with Rattler, and Miss Hida give her the money if so be she would take off the child to Canada with her.’
‘And where?’ hoarsely asked the father.
‘That I can’t tell, my Lord; Louey have never written, and I knows no more than nothing at all. She’ve not been a dutiful gal to me, as have done everything for her.’
There was no more to be made out of Mrs. Hall, and they went their way.
‘There is no doubt that the little fellow is alive,’ said Mr. Deyncourt.
‘Who can guess what those wretches have done to him?’ said Lord Northmoor under his breath. ‘Not that I am unthankful for the blessed hope,’ he added, uncovering his head, ‘but I am astounded more than I can say, by this—’
‘It must be invention of the woman,’ said Mr. Deyncourt.
‘I hope so,’ was the answer.
‘Could Miss Rollstone have suspected it? She was very unlike what I have seen of her before.’
They separated for breakfast, agreeing to meet afterwards to hunt up the Jones family.