"Sir," he said, "I am obliged to you for your hospitality. I will walk to the station now, and catch the five-thirty train back to town. I presume, after what has just happened, that we may regard this incident as closed. And let me tell you, Mr. Lottingar," the old gentleman added, turning on his heel as he opened the door, "that Miss Lottingar is a d——d sight too good a daughter for such a shark as yourself."
After he had gone, Captain Lottingar kicked a valuable Japanese fire-screen (for which he had not paid) round the room.
IV
On clearing the lodge-gates Pip turned the car to the left, and they spun down the London road. For an hour they travelled, sometimes slowing through a village or changing gear up a hill, but usually running at top speed, rolling up the miles like shavings under a jack-plane. Pip sat gripping his wheel, intent on his work. Lottie, rigid and upright beside him, looked straight before her, with her hands clasped tightly together under the rug. Occasionally she cast a sidelong glance at her silent companion.
At last, when they had covered nearly thirty miles, Lottie spoke.
"Jack, I want to talk to you. Stop this machine in some quiet place. That beastly engine makes too much noise for me."
Pip, who was getting used to these wayside halts, ran the car up the next opening and stopped.
Then the two turned and regarded each other. A glance apprised Pip of the fact that he was to be big brother again.
"Well?" he said.
"Jack, I've done it this time."