Lothian plunged the needle into the glass of milk, moving it this way and that.
He heard footsteps on the stairs, and with the same stealthy dexterity he replaced the cap of the bottle and closed the drawer.
He was lighting a cigarette when Blanche knocked and entered, followed by Tumpany.
"What is it, Tumpany?" he said, as the maid once more took up her tray and left the room with it.
"I was thinking, sir, that we haven't got a cleaning rod packed for the ten-bores. I quite forgot it. The twelve-bore rods won't reach through thirty-two-and-a-half barrels. And all the cases are strapped and locked now, sir. You've got the keys."
"By Jove, no, we never thought of it. But those two special rods I had made at Tolley's—where are they?"
"Here, sir," the man answered going to the gun-cupboard.
"Oh, very well. Unscrew one and stick it in your pocket. We can put it in the case when we're in the train. It's a corridor train, and when we've started you can come along to my carriage and I'll give you the key of the ten-bore case."
"Very good, sir. The trap's come. I'll just take this suit case down and then I'll get Trust. He can sit behind with me."
"Yes. I'll be down in a minute."