“I say, Wal, if you know anything, shut up, won’t you?” he begged.
“Don’t intimidate the witness,” said Pop. “Go ahead, Cathcart. What did you discover?”
“I discovered,” continued Cathcart after an apologetic glance at Hugh, “that the owner of Lockely Manor in Glyndestoke, Hampshire—or Hants, as Hugh calls it—England, is the Marquis of Lockely, who is some sort of a secretary in the Ministry; I’ve forgotten what.”
“Political Secretary, Colonial Office, sir, begging your pardon,” said Bowles proudly.
“Also,” continued Cathcart, with a twinkle in his eye, “I discovered that the aforementioned Marquis of Lockely has one son, Hugh Oswald Brodwick, Earl of Ordway!”
Number 29 was so still for an instant that you could have heard a pin drop! Then someone said, “Gee!” very fervently, and a dozen fellows all began to talk at once. But it was Bert’s voice which dominated the others.
“Is that so, Hugh?” he demanded.
“Oh, dry up,” answered Hugh. “I—I’d like to punch your head, Cathcart!”
“I was afraid you would,” replied Cathcart sadly.