“What audacity!” exclaimed Miss Thane.
“Yes, and he is wearing a waistcoat with coquelicot stripes,” said Eustacie.
“What!” ejaculated Ludovic. “Here, where’s my dressing-gown? I must take a look at him!”
“Oh no, you must not!” said Sir Tristram, preventing his attempt to leap out of bed.
“It is too late: he has entered the house. What can he want?”
“Probably to convince us that he was really in London last night,” said Shield. “We’ll go down to him, Eustacie.”
“ Je le veux bien! What shall I say to him?”
“Whatever you please, as long as it does not concern Ludovic.” He looked across the room at Miss Thane. “Do you think you can contrive to be as stupid and talkative as you were when he last saw you?”
“Oh, am I allowed to take part?” asked Miss Thane. “Certainly I can be as stupid. To what purpose?”
“Well, I think it is time we frightened Basil a little,” said Sir Tristram. “Since he must now be very sure that Ludovic is in Sussex, we will further inform him that we suspect him of being Plunkett’s real murderer.”