“I am of the opinion, my dear,” she observed to her cousin, “that we need a protector. It’s true we crossed the continent without one and got on pretty well; but America is a free land and people are not so ridden by aristocracy as they are in this kingdom. I asked Feargus to come, and even offered to pay him a salary as our courier, because I know the boy is quite poor, but he could not accept until he had received permission from Mr. Kalisch.”
There was a tap at the door, and Feargus, looking very agitated, entered the room.
“I have come to accept your offer, Miss Campbell, if it is still open,” he said.
“Of course, Feargus, we are very glad. But what has happened? You look as if you had seen a ghost, or suffered a nervous shock.”
Feargus made an unsuccessful attempt to smile.
“It’s nothing,” he said. “Something unpleasant did occur, but I shall be all right by to-morrow, I daresay. Do we start early?”
“Quite early,” answered Billie. “We want to be in Oxford by one o’clock at the latest.”
“I shall meet you, then, on the road to Oxford a few miles from St. Albans. I will be walking and you can overtake me. Until then, good-by. Oh, yes,” he said, coming back into the room. “Would you mind not mentioning to any one that I am going?”
He left the room, leaving them wondering at his mysterious behavior.
Did he mean that they were not to mention it to Telemac Kalisch, who, having heard that they were staying at the hotel, presented himself at their sitting-room? He heard the story of the bull and of how Mary had outwitted the Duke of Kilkenty.