Pulling up at the barrier gate, she glanced hopefully about. Mr. Ayling was nowhere to be seen. If he had arrived ahead of her, undoubtedly he was inside the building.
As Penny hesitated, wondering what to do, Winkey’s ugly face appeared behind the iron spokes of the gate.
“You again!” he observed with a scowl.
“Yes, I’m looking for a friend of mine, Mr. Ayling, who was here yesterday.”
“You think we got him hid somewheres?” the gateman asked insolently.
“I thought he might have come here again.”
“Well, he didn’t. And Father Benedict ain’t here either. So you can’t come in.”
Though annoyed by the hunchback’s curt manners, Penny held her temper in check.
“I very much wanted to talk to your master,” she said. “I may ask him to allow me to join the cult.”
The hunchback’s eyes opened wide, and, as was his habit, he then blinked rapidly.