"This is Hartledon House, I believe," he said, speaking with a Scotch accent.
"Yes, sir."
"Do you belong to it?"
"I am Lord Hartledon's butler."
"Is Lord Hartledon at home?"
"No, sir. He is in France."
"I read a notice of his marriage in the public papers," continued the stranger, whose eyes were fixed on Hedges. "It was, I suppose, a correct one?"
"My lord was married the week before last: about ten or eleven days ago."
"Ay; April the fourteenth, the paper said. She is one of the Kirton family. When do you expect him home?"
"I don't know at all, sir. I've not heard anything about it."