“Are those the ladies——?” said Miss Blow. “But of course they are. I heard about that. Do you mean to say that you’re going to sit here and do nothing, nothing whatever, while men are being murdered in this wholesale manner every day? Will you make no effort to bring the criminals to justice and prevent the loss of more human life? You, sir,” she addressed Mr. Goddard, “you wear his Majesty’s uniform; you are an officer in what is supposed to be a police force——”
“It is a police force,” said Mr. Goddard feebly. “It really is, although I am an officer in it.”
“And you,” she went on, turning to Lord Manton, “you are a magistrate besides being a peer.”
“Miss Blow,” said Lord Manton, “won’t you come into the library and sit down? We could talk so much more comfortably if we were sitting down. Besides, this is rather a public place for the discussion of private affairs.”
He looked past Miss Blow towards the end of the corridor. Something in his expression made Miss Blow turn her head. She saw, gathered in a knot in the hall, the cook, the kitchen-maid, the upper and under house-maid, and Wilkins. All of them, except Wilkins, were grinning. They had forgotten all decency and the respect due to their master. They were eagerly listening to every word Miss Blow said. She allowed herself to be led into the library.
“Now sit down,” said Lord Manton. “You must be thoroughly tired out after your long walk yesterday and all this excitement to-day. Will you allow me to offer you a glass of wine and a biscuit? Goddard, ring the bell, like a good man.”
“No,” said Miss Blow.
“A cup of tea, then? No? Or an egg flip? The cook would have it ready in a moment. I often have an egg flip myself when I’m feeling over-done. It’s an excellent thing, I assure you.”
“No,” said Mrs. Blow; “I’ll take nothing—nothing from you. I——”
“Well, just allow me to say one word,” said Lord Manton, “before you begin again.”