Mr Hurkle raised his eyebrows and then his hand to his lips, and said “Hem!”
“May I ask how you know?” said her ladyship.
“Been there myself, hundreds of times,” said Tom, sturdily.
“Oh!” ejaculated her ladyship; and that “Oh!” was wonderful in the meaning it expressed. For it seemed to say, “I thought as much! That accounts for the amount of money squandered away!” and her ladyship gazed at her son from between her half-closed lids as she said aloud, “Go on, Mr Hurkle, if you please.”
“Hem! ‘Left Barker’s at eleven Pee Hem. Returned to Duke Street.’ That is the whole of the third entry, my lady.”
“Thank you. Proceed.”
“Eleven o’clock, eh?” said Tom. “Well, very respectable time.”
“Be silent, if you please, sir. Continue, Mr Hurkle.”
“‘Sunday, fifteent. Went out at three. To Barker’s, Jermyn Street.’”
“Hum! Gambling house on a Sunday,” said her ladyship, sarcastically. “Continue, Mr Hurkle.”