“That is quite enough and not too much to send. If he is concerned in the abduction, he will hasten at once to London to take the child from the dangerous hands he is in. If he is not so, still I think he will hurry hither to help in the search.”
“You reason rightly, dear,” said Anna.
Drusilla then wrote a second message, to be sent to General Lyon. It was couched in these terms:
“Little Lenny is missing since this afternoon. Come to London by the first train. If in the interim you have time to do so, seek Alexander at the Dolphin and tell him.”
This also she showed to Anna, saying:
“You see I had to modify my message since learning that Alexander was also in Southampton; and so also I had to destroy the slip I wrote at the Morley House and prepare this. Now I see it is my turn to be served,” she said, taking her two messages and carrying them to the operator. She paid for them and then inquired:
“How soon will these go?”
“This instant, mum,” answered the bothered operator, so brusquely that Drusilla did not venture to ask another question, but merely left her address and a request that if an answer came to either of her telegrams it might be forwarded immediately.
“Now, my dear, what next?” inquired Anna, as they re-entered their carriage.
“To the ‘Times’ office, and from there to all the newspaper offices in turn. It may not be really necessary to advertise; and I hope that it is not; but still I must lose no time and miss no chance,” said Drusilla.