Five minutes after Pratt entered the room, with—
“Now, Vanleigh, I’ll play a—Hallo! where the deuce are they?”
He walked hastily into the billiard-room, expecting to find a game begun; but, of course, they were not there.
“Gone to write letters,” he muttered; and he went into the library.
Then he entered the drawing-room, the dining-room, the conservatory. Ran up and knocked at their bedroom doors, and then ran down again.
“Having a weed in the garden,” said Pratt, “of course. How provoking!”
He took a hat and ran out to the summer-house, garden chairs being set out beneath the various favourite trees, and at last caught sight of a couple of figures in the distance, evidently making for the sea.
“That must be them,” he said; and he started off in full chase.
Meanwhile Trevor had hurried off; and as he left the house, Mrs Lloyd came into the hall, and then watched him from a side window.
“Yes!” she said; “he’s gone that way again—I thought he would. He’s sure to meet her.”