The lad complied, and as he did so, peered eagerly into the capacious depths of the vehicle.
"The boy with the fish!" exclaimed at the same time a girlish treble within.
"Eh?" my lord turned sharply.
"An impudent lad who stopped the Lady Elise!" exclaimed the fat man—surely Beppo—on the front seat.
"Stopped the Lady Elise!" The Governor repeated the words slowly; an ominous pause was followed by an abrupt movement on the part of the child.
"He did not stop me; it was I who nearly ran over him, and it was my fault. Beppo does not tell the truth—he's a wicked man!—and I'm glad I'm not going to see him any more! And the boy wasn't impudent; at least until Beppo offered to strike him, and then, Beppo didn't! Beppo," derisively, "was afraid!"
"My lady," Beppo's voice was soft and unctuous, "construes forbearance for fear."
"Step nearer, boy!"
Partly blinded by the lamps, the lad obeyed; was cognizant of a piercing scrutiny; two hard, steely eyes that seemed to read his inmost thoughts; a face, indistinguishable but compelling; beyond, something white—a girl's dress—that moved and fluttered!
"Who is he?"