“If necessary,” replied Douglas, glancing at him in surprise.
“I think it would be best. Mrs. Winthrop is completely unstrung; her niece, Miss Carew, prostrated from shock, and Mr. Philip Winthrop in bed with a bad attack of delirium tremens. In such a household your presence to-night might be invaluable if anything else were to happen—not that I am anticipating any further trouble or tragedies.”
“Very well, I will stay,” agreed Douglas.
“’Deed I’se mighty glad ter hyar dat,” volunteered Joshua, who hovered just inside the door on the pretext of arranging some furniture. “But I dunno whar I’ll put yo’, suh. Miss Eleanor, she’s in de gues’ chambah, an’ Annette’s in de room back ob her’s, and de nusses fo’ Marse Philip has der spar rooms in der third flo’.”
“Never mind, Joshua, I can camp out in this room. That sofa looks very comfortable,” and Douglas pointed to the large upholstered davenport which faced the empty fireplace.
“Just a moment, Joshua,” exclaimed Brett, as the old butler moved toward the door. “Did you see Senator Carew leave the house yesterday afternoon?”
“No, suh.”
“Did he take luncheon here?”
“No, suh; he cum in ’bout three o’clock; leastways dat was when he rung fo’ me, an’ I reckon he’d only jes’ arrived, ’cause he had his hat an’ coat on his arm.”
“What did he want with you?”