He opened the envelope and perused a short note, which he gave to Brett. It ran:—
“DEAREST,—I have just heard from Jane, our under-housemaid, that Mr. Capella is leaving the Hall for London by an early train to-morrow. Jane ‘walks out’ with Mr. Capella’s valet, and is in tears. Tell Mr. Brett. I am going to help Mrs. Eastham to select prize books for the school treat to-morrow at eleven.
“—With love, yours,
“NELLIE.”
“Who brought this note?” inquired Hume from the waiter as he picked up pen and paper.
“A man from Sleagill, sir. Any reply?”
“Certainly. Tell him to wait in the tap-room at my expense.” He commenced to write.
“Any message?” he asked Brett.
“Yes. Give Miss Layton my compliments, and say I regret to hear that Jane is in tears. Ask her—Miss Layton—to get Jane to find out from the valet what train his master will travel by.”
“Why?”
“Because I will go by an earlier one, if possible.”
“But what about me! Confound it, I promised—”