But the landlord kept his back firmly against the door, and prevented the young man passing out.
‘You will forgive me, sir, but you must not go—not just yet—not till I have said something. I have been trying to break it to you, Mr Walcheren, but I am afraid I have done it badly. They have found her, sir. She was found hours ago, and I came to tell you so.’
Frederick Walcheren stared at him, as if he thought he was mad.
‘Found!’ he ejaculated, ‘and hours ago. What do you mean? Why has she not come home then? Is she injured—hurt? Has any accident happened to her?’
‘Yes, sir, there has indeed, and you must try and bear it like a man. The lady has been hurt—badly—and she was found on the beach by two boatmen at five o’clock, or thereabouts.’
‘Hurt! my darling. Oh! my God! this is hard,’ exclaimed Frederick, in a voice of anguish. ‘But where is she? Why have they not brought her here? Why did they not send for me?’
‘Well, sir, they did not know where the lady belonged at first, nor who she was, so they carried her to the nearest public-house; “The Bottle and Spurs,” which is half-way down the cliffs to the town.’
‘A public-house!’ cried Walcheren, indignantly; ‘how dared they take a lady there? What was Mrs Walcheren about, to consent to it? Order a carriage at once, if you please, Mr Cameron, and I will go and fetch her home.’
The landlord fidgeted with the handle of the door.
‘Well, you see, sir, I am not sure if the authorities will allow of her removal. It’s the usual thing, under the circumstances, you see, and sorry as I should be to disoblige you, I’m afraid my customers might object to her being brought here. “The Bottle and Spurs” is a very respectable house, sir, and everything will be done, I feel sure, as can be done, to make things as little unpleasant for you as possible, but the authorities—’