“I can get my bicycle for myself,” said Miss Blow.
“It would be too much trouble for you, miss,” said Jimmy O’Loughlin. “But of course, if the young lady’s doubtful about the way Moriarty might handle it, she’s right to go. It’s a good bicycle,” he added, “though I’d say that maybe the back tyre of it was a bit worn.”
Miss Blow, accompanied by Moriarty, who looked extremely uncomfortable, left the room. Sergeant Farrelly and Constable Cole marched rapidly down the street towards the barrack.
“I think, ladies,” said Lord Manton, “that Mr. Goddard and I will leave you for the present. We shall see you this evening again, so we need not say good-bye.”
“That,” said Lord Manton to Mr. Goddard as they walked together across the deer park, “was a good stratagem. I don’t altogether envy Moriarty when it comes to its climax; but Cole certainly deserves promotion.”
“I don’t see that it’s much use in reality,” said Mr. Goddard. “It’s only putting off the evil day, you know. When the sergeant comes back from Rosivera we’ll have the whole thing to do over again.”
“You told him not to hurry, I hope,” said Lord Manton.
“I told him to spend as long over the job as he possibly could. I told him not to be back before six this evening at the very earliest. But what’s the good of that? He’s bound to come back some time.”
“Still, it’s always so much time gained. We may hear something of the missing men before then. You’ll telegraph all over the country, of course.”
“I’ll go back at once,” said Mr. Goddard, “and take entire possession of the telegraph office.”