“But he shall give it to-morrow, and be set at liberty. I shall see to that. Here we are again at the door of our hotel. Shall we go in? Or have you anything else to ask me?” questioned the squire.
“No; nothing else to-night. Let us go in.”
The two gentlemen entered the house, got their chamber keys from the sleepy watchman, and went upstairs.
The public parlors were dark and deserted. The gas burned low in the halls.
The earl and the squire bade each other good-night and separated, and went off to their several apartments.
Mr. Force climbed another flight of stairs to seek the little room he had occupied since his wife’s illness.
He paused at the door of her sick chamber and knocked lightly.
The night nurse answered the summons.
“How is Mrs. Force this evening?” he inquired.
“She is better, sir, and she is sleeping nicely,” replied the woman.