The two left the room, and Lady Conybeare turned to Toby.
"Well, Toby," she said.
"I don't wish to be either indiscreet or absurd, mother," he answered.
"Nor I," said she. "Kit told me she was coming to Stanborough for a week, and I asked her, of course, to stay here. She said she had made arrangements to stay at the Links Hotel. Jack is not coming."
Toby made two bread pellets, and flicked them out of the window with extraordinary accuracy of aim.
"Damn Kit!" he said. "She comes to-morrow, and that beast, I suppose, came a day or two ago. I saw somebody in the distance the day before yesterday who reminded me of him, but I didn't give another thought to it. No doubt it was he."
There was a pause.
"But Jack——" said Lady Conybeare, and it cost her something to say it.
"Oh, Jack's a fool!" said Toby quickly. "You know that as well as I do, mother. Of course, he's awfully clever, and all that; but I'll be blowed if my wife ever stops at a seaside hotel with a Comber-man."
Lady Conybeare stretched out her hand.