He extended his hand for the letter; but the servant drew back, and answered hastily:
“Don’t bother yourself. I’ve had my orders, and I guess when I don’t want beggars around, I know how to send them to the right-about.”
And without waiting to note the effect of her speech, she shut the door in his face, leaving him to retreat as the two beggars had done.
“Be off, now, and thank fortune that I am a good-natured fellow.”—[page 181].
Hastening up the steps he looked after the women, who were already nearly two blocks away. Then, with one backward glance, he started off in the same direction, keeping at a safe distance, but always in sight of them.
“So,” he mused, as he walked along, “the Warburton servant has had her orders. That was precisely the information I wanted. These women were not beggars, but messengers, and they brought no message of the ordinary kind.”
Suddenly he uttered a sharp ejaculation, and quickened his pace.
“That old woman—why, she answers perfectly the description given of Mother Francoise! And if it is Mother Francoise, she has undoubtedly brought a message to Alan Warburton. If it is that old woman, I will soon know it, for I shall not take my two eyes off her until I have tracked her home.”