“Drink it off, dear,” she said. The child drank it greedily.
“You did put me into a nice sleep,” he exclaimed.
“Yes, am I not a wonderful woman? Now go to sleep again, little one, and I will sit by you. But listen to me, Piers—you are not to tell anybody about my secret.”
“What secret?” asked the boy.
“The beautiful way in which I put you to sleep.”
“Would you rather I didn’t?”
“I should be very, very angry if you did. You must not disobey me. Do you promise?”
“Oh, yes, I promise; but don’t look at me with such queer eyes; you make me frightened.”
“You have no cause to be frightened; go to sleep again.”
Meanwhile Pelham, hailing a hansom, drove straight to his chambers in Temple Court. He entered his sitting-room, and then started back with an impatient exclamation. Tarbot was standing on the hearth.