Here their host returned.
"I'm very sorry, you fellows," said he, with absurd humility. "I'm all off colour to-night, and I know I've made a rude ruffian of myself. Some of these days you'll understand; meantime will you forgive me?"
"I have nothing to forgive," replied Llewellyn.
"We'll say no more about it," said Stubbs.
And Jack shook hands with them both before leaving them for good; then he hurried through the length of the building to the great conservatory, where Stebbings was putting out the lights. The conservatory was at that extreme of the Towers which the dogcart would pass first. Here, too, was room and air for a man distraught. So Jack called out to Stebbings to leave the lights on longer.
"And light some more," he added suddenly. "Light up every lamp in the place! I shall stay here until Mr. Lafont returns."
"Yes, your Grace."
"Stebbings!"
"Your Grace?"
"For God's sake don't call me that again! I—I'm not used to it, Stebbings—any more than you're used to me," added Jack inconsequently; and he fled into the grounds until the old man should be gone.