“I’m glad you decided to go a different way to those people, Preston,” said Mr Burne.
“The decision was made on the instant, my dear sir; for I did mean to start from here.”
“Ah, you thought those people would be a nuisance?”
“Indeed I did.”
The professor had hardly spoken when Lawrence touched his arm; for the parties alluded to approached, and the lady checked her lord, who was going to speak, by saying:
“I thought I would give you a hint about going pretty well-armed. You will not have to use your weapons if you let the people see that you have them.”
“Arms, ma’am! Stuff! rubbish!” cried Mr Burne. “The proper arms of an Englishman are the statutes at large, bound in law calf, with red labels on their back.”
“Statutes at large!” said the lady wonderingly.
“Yes, ma’am—the laws of his country, or the laws of the country where he is; and the proper arms of a lady, madam, are her eyes.”
“And her tongue,” said the professor to himself, but not in so low a voice that it was not heard by Lawrence, who gave him a sharp look full of amusement.