“Really!” said Miss Farquharson.
Then she turned her back on Miss Blow, who sat next her, and looked with great interest at the horses. Mr. Goddard leaned across the waggonette and whispered to Lord Manton.
“What do you mean to do when we get to the hotel?”
“Hush!” said Lord Manton.
Miss Blow’s eyes were fixed on him, and he felt that confidences were dangerous.
Jimmy O’Loughlin greeted the party at the door of his hotel. He was surprised to see them. He was still more surprised when Lord Manton demanded the use of a private sitting-room.
“There’s the commercial room,” he said, “and there’s the drawing-room. You can have the two of them if I you like, for there isn’t a soul stopping in the house this minute barring the doctor’s young lady. It’ll be better, maybe, for you to take the commercial room by reason of there being a key to the door, so as you’ll be able to lock it if you heard Bridgy coming along the passage.”
“What are you going to do now?” said Mr. Goddard, catching Lord Manton by the arm, as the ladies entered the commercial room.
“I’m going to persuade Jimmy O’Loughlin to sign the warrant, if I possibly can,” said Lord Manton.
“He’ll not do it. Jimmy O’Loughlin’s not a born fool.”