“I am following my Lord Carteret's orders to the letter. I am to effect no arrest until I have positive evidence.”
“Yet you are detaining me. What does this amount to but an arrest?”
Mr. Green disdained to answer. Leduc entered, and Mr. Caryll turned to Lord Ostermore.
“There is no reason why I should detain your lordship,” said he, “and these operations—The lady—” He waved an expressive hand, bent an expressive eye upon the earl.
Lord Ostermore seemed to waver. He was not—he had never been—a man to think for others. But Hortensia cut in before he could reply.
“We will wait,” she said. “Since you are travelling to town, I am sure his lordship will be glad of your company, sir.”
Mr. Caryll looked deep into those great brown eyes, and bowed his thanks. “If it will not discompose your lordship—”
“No, no,” said Ostermore, gruff of voice and manner. “We will wait. I shall be honored, sir, if you will journey with us afterwards.”
Mr. Caryll bowed again, and went to hold the door for them, Mr. Green's eyes keenly alert for an attempt at evasion. But there was none. When his lordship and his ward had departed, Mr. Caryll turned to Rotherby, who had taken a chair, his man Gaskell behind him. He looked from the viscount to Mr. Green.
“Do we require this gentleman?” he asked the spy.