CHAPTER XIX.
IN WHICH ERNEST STARTS FOR MADISON PLACE WITH KATE.
I COULD not exactly understand how Mr. Loraine, being in Baltimore, or on the way to New York, had sent a carriage for his niece. It was possible that Kate's uncle had returned sooner than he had been expected, or that Mr. McKim had seen his partner's family, and they had sent for Kate. It did not occur to me that there was anything wrong; but I desired to see Mr. Loraine, and tell him her story before his niece went to his house.
"Who sent you for Miss Loraine?" I asked of the hackman.
"How should I know who sint me?" replied the driver, an ill-favored Irishman, and a rough specimen even of New York hackmen, who are not reputed to be saints. "A gintleman gave me this paper, and told me to come here."
I took the paper, and read what was written upon it: "Call at the —— Hotel for Miss Kate Loraine, and drive her to No. — Madison Place. Bring the young man who is with her also."
"Who gave you this?" I asked.
"I don't know who he was. It was a gintleman that came over to the hack-stand by the Park."
"Was he an old man, or a young man?"