Since neither she nor Peregrine had the least notion where Cavendish Square was to be found, and since neither of them cared to betray their ignorance by inquiring the way, Peregrine called up one of the hackneys with which the streets seemed to abound and gave the coachman the direction.
Cavendish Square was soon reached, and the hackney, drawing up before a great stucco-fronted house with an imposing portico, Peregrine handed his sister down, paid off the coachman, and said stoutly: “Well, he can’t eat us, Ju, after all.”
“No,” said Miss Taverner. “No, of course not. Oh Perry, wait! Do not knock! There is a straw in your shoe; you must have picked it up off the floor of that horrid carriage.”
“Lord, what a lucky chance that you saw it!” said Peregrine, removing the straw, and giving a final twitch to the lapels of his coat. “Now for it, Ju!” He raised his hand to the knocker, and beat a mild tattoo on the door.
“They will never hear that!” said his sister scornfully. “If you are afraid I certainly am not!” She stepped forward and grasping the knocker firmly, beat an imperious summons with it.
In the middle of this operation the door opened, rather to Miss Taverner’s discomfiture. A very large footman confronted them, inclining his head slightly to learn their business.
Miss Taverner, recovering her composure, inquired if Lord Worth were at home, and upon being asked civilly for her name, replied grandly: “Be good enough to inform his lordship, if you please, that Sir Peregrine and Miss Taverner are here.”
The footman bowed, as though he were much impressed by this speech, and held the door wide for them to pass through into the house. Here a second footman took them in charge, and begging them to follow him, led the way across what seemed to be a vast hall to a mahogany door which opened into a saloon. He ushered them into this apartment and left them there.
Peregrine passed a finger inside his cravat. “You carried. that off mighty well, Ju,” he said approvingly. “I hope you may handle the old gentleman as prettily.”
“Oh,” said Miss Taverner, “I don’t expect there will be the least need. Do you know, Perry, I have been thinking that we have made Lord Worth into an ogre, between us, and ten to one but he is perfectly amiable?”