'There must be no more donning the name of Dowton,' said Dick, trying to be stern.
'I suppose I shall have to give that up,' the barber said with a sigh. 'I had to bolt, you see, last time, before I meant to go.'
'Ah, you have not told me yet the why and wherefore of those sudden disappearances. Excuse my saying so, Josephs, but they were scarcely gentlemanly.'
'I know it,' said Josephs sadly, 'but however carefully one plans a thing, it may take a wrong turning. The first time I was at the castle I meant to leave in a carriage and pair, waving my handkerchief, but it could not be done at the money.'
'The colonel would have sent you to Silchester in his own trap.'
'Ah, I wanted a brougham. You see I had been a little extravagant at the inn, and I could not summon up courage to leave the castle without tipping the servants all round.'
'So you waited till you were penniless, and then stole away?'
'Not quite penniless,' said Josephs; 'I had three pounds left, but——'
He hesitated.
'You see,' he blurted out, blushing at last, 'my old mother is dependent on me, and I kept the three pounds for her.'