Whether the oracular “remember” was a menace or an entreaty I know not; but the young gentleman fixed the coin in his eye after the manner of an eye-glass, and with some horrid skips and a grin of triumph at Miss Clara, he made his exit.
“Where can he learn those vile, low tricks?” exclaimed Miss Clara. “I don’t believe there is another such boy in England. He’ll disgrace us, you’ll find, and he’ll kill me, I know.”
“He has been extremely troublesome; and I’ll speak to him by-and-by,” said the matron.
“Speak, indeed; much he cares!”
“I’ll make him care, though.”
There was a little silence, and the ladies mentally returned to the more momentous topic from which the extortion of Howard Seymour had for a moment diverted them.
“What do you think of it?” murmured Mrs. Kincton Knox.
“Oh! I think there’s but one thing to think,” answered Miss Clara.
“I look upon it as perfectly conclusive; and, in fact, his appearance tallies so exactly with the descriptions we have heard that we hardly needed all this corroboration. As it is, I am satisfied.”
At this moment the door opened, and Vane Trevor was announced.