"Beeves, where is your mistress?"
"My mistress, sir? I beg your pardon, sir, I'm sure, sir! How should I know, sir? I 'aint let her out. Shall I run up-stairs and see if she is in her room?"
"Open the door."
Beeves laid violent hold upon the handle of the door, and pulled and twisted, but always took care to pull before he twisted.
"I declare if that stupid Ann 'aint been and locked it. It aint nice in the garden to-day, sir—leastways without goloshes," added he, looking down at his master's slippers.
Now the colonel understood Beeves, and Beeves knew that he understood him. But Beeves knew likewise that the colonel would not give in to the possibility of his servant's taking such liberties with him.
"Never mind," said the colonel; "I will go the other way."
The moment he was out of sight, Beeves opened the garden-door, and began gesticulating like a madman, fully persuaded that the doctor would make his escape. But so far from being prepared to run away, Harry had come there with the express intention of forcing a conference. So that when the colonel made his appearance on the terrace, the culprits walked slowly towards him. He went to meet them with long military strides, and was the first to speak.
"Mr. Armstrong, to what am I to attribute this intrusion?"
"Chiefly to the desire of seeing you, Colonel Cathcart."