"I've been here since half-past nine," said another.
One bold spirit rapped sharply on the door.
As a result one next to it bearing a brass plate and a solicitor's name was opened and a man put his head out and angrily demanded:
"Who's making that row? If you're waiting to see the fellow who had that room, he's gone. Went away yesterday afternoon."
"Meaning Mr. Norburton?" asked one of the girls.
"I don't know what his name was. He's gone, anyhow. It's no good waiting about and making a noise."
He shut the door. The girls stared at one another blankly.
"I want to know the meaning of this," said one of them truculently. "P'raps the caretaker can tell us." She clattered down the stone stairs, and half a dozen of the others followed her.
A fair girl standing next to Alexandra spoke to her.
"Did you want to see Mr. Norburton too?"