“What did it signify?—when Pym was going away in a day or two. Check to you, Johnny Ludlow.”
That first game, what with talking and tea-drinking, was a long one. I won it. When Ozias came in for the tea-cups Coralie asked him whether Sir Dace had rung for anything. No, the man answered; most likely his master would remain locked in till bed-time; it was his way when any great thing put him out.
“I don’t think I can stay for another game,” I said to Coralie, as she began to place the men again.
“Are you in such a hurry?” cried Coralie, glancing round at the clock: which said twenty minutes to ten.
I was not in any hurry at all that night, as regarded myself: I had thought she might not care for me to stay longer. Miss Deveen and Cattledon had gone out to dinner some ten miles away, and were not expected home before midnight. So we began a fresh game.
“Why! that clock must have stopped!”
Chancing to look at it by-and-by, I saw that it stood at the same time—twenty minutes to ten. I took out my watch. It said just ten minutes past ten.
“What does it signify?” said Coralie. “You can stay here till twenty minutes to twelve if you like—and be whirled home in a cab by midnight then.”
That was true. If——
“Good gracious!” exclaimed Coralie.