"You have! Where are they?"
"Winchester."
"Winchester! What are they doing there?"
"He's been arrested."
"Arrested!"
"Yes. Sit down and I'll tell you about it." Which he proceeded to do, and also about Lady Scarsdale's visit.
"Just so," commented Aunt Eliza when he had finished. "Now what do you propose doing next?"
"I suppose the proper thing would be to put the two couples in communication with each other," suggested Jack.
"Well, I'm not so sure," she said. "You and I are the only ones who know all the facts, and we must not act in a hurry. Now there's Allingford and Mabel down at Melton Court. They'll keep till to-morrow, I guess. It would just spoil her night's rest to know that her husband was in jail at Winchester, and send her over to him by the first train to-morrow morning, like as not, to weep on his neck and complicate the course of justice. Anyway, I don't think the two couples had better meet till we are present to soothe their ruffled feelings; for, after the mess that the Consul's brother has got them into, I dare say that, left to themselves, the Scarsdales and Allingfords wouldn't be real cordial to each other. But I see you are packing up. Now where are you going?"
"I was going down to Salisbury, at Lady Scarsdale's request."