"Me, mum? No, mum," said Peter, rather alarmed by her peremptory tone.
"Don't tell lies, boy," said his mistress sternly. "You told your brother that Mr. Hench was staying at Mrs. Bell's cottage."
"I know I did, mum." Peter began to whimper. "But I hope I didn't do no harm, mum. Simon, he thinks no end of Mr. Hench, so I thought as I'd tell him. But it's all right, mum. Simon knows what he's about."
"What do you mean by that?" questioned Vane quickly, for the page spoke in a very significant tone. Peter shuffled and wriggled uncomfortably. "Simon will tell you, sir, when the time comes," he replied evasively.
"Tell what?"
"What Simon knows, sir."
"And what does Simon know?"
"I can't tell you, sir. Simon's clever. He knows a thing or two."
"And so do I," said Mrs. Perage sternly. "And one is that you are not to write gossiping letters from my house."
"No, mum, I won't!" And Peter went away as quickly as he could lest he should be questioned further. "Now what does that mean?" asked Mrs. Perage shrewdly. "Is this brat and his brother mixed up in this dangerous business?"