“Beg pardon, sir, here is his lordship,” whispered one of the men; and Lord Pinemount came cantering up over the short turf and furze.
“Here, what’s the meaning of this?” he cried. “Why are you not going on with your work? Two of these trees ought to be down by now. Who is this man?”
He had so far ignored the Doctor; and as Veronica saw the impending collision she tried to get through the hedge, but stuck fast.
The Doctor flushed, but spoke very quietly, as he raised his hat.
“Lord Pinemount, I believe?” he said.
“Yes,” said Lord Pinemount. “Who the devil are you? How dare you trespass on my grounds and delay my workpeople?”
The Doctor’s lips worked under his stiff beard, and he could not speak for a moment.
“Do you hear me, sir? Be off!” cried his lordship, who was pale with rage. “You men get on with your job.”
The men touched their hats, spat in their hands, and swung up their axes; and Veronica saw things through a mist, but started as much as Lord Pinemount did, for the Doctor roared, in a voice of thunder,—
“Stop!”