“After a while, Burr,” he said, “after a while. Your turn will come.”
I felt in a whirl of emotion, for I was half stunned at the turn matters had taken, and I tried again to catch Mercer’s eye, but he did not even glance at me, but stood opening and shutting his hands as he glared at Dicksee, who looked horribly alarmed, and as if he would like to run away.
The Doctor signed to us to go, and we were taken through the house and servants’ offices, so as not to attract the attention of the boys, reaching the yard at last, and entering the stable.
My ears seemed to have bells ringing in them as we stood there, and I heard the Doctor say,—
“Rather an awkward place for me to get up, Mr Rebble; but I suppose I must try.”
He made the effort after we had all gone before, and reached the top no worse off than by the addition of a little dust upon his glossy black coat. Then, clearing his voice, as we all stood near the bin, in much the same positions as in the library, he began,—
“Ah, that is the straw, I suppose. Burr junior and Mercer have used this place a good deal, I believe, as a kind of atelier or workshop?”
“Yes, sir,” said Burr major promptly.
“Then that is the bin, is it, Dicksee?”
“Yes, sir.”