Hilton dropped it carefully into his pocket.
At this moment the electric light was suddenly switched on, and the whole place was brilliantly illuminated. They both turned sharply towards the door. There in his dressing-gown stood an old gentleman. Hilton had often seen those classic features in photographs or the illustrated papers. He recognised them at once. It was the Lord Chancellor.
"What are you doing here?" came the stern judicial voice.
"We are—er—we are making the Home Circuit, my lord," said Hilton deferentially. "May I ask your lordship to be good enough to lower your voice. You perceive that I am armed."
"You would dare to fire on me, sir?" said the Lord Chancellor.
"I hope it will not be necessary; for in that case your lordship would not hunt next season with the Bister Vale. Will you please take that seat?"
His lordship sank into the chair. "You are a bold man," he said, after a pause.
"A bold, bad man, I fear, my lord. And so is my partner, Mr. William Sikes here. Aren't you, William?"
William did not reply. He was gazing intently at the Lord Chancellor.
"Ain't yer name 'Ardy?" he asked. "'Enery 'Ardy?"