"I mean that he's in this house. He's downstairs."
"I won't ask how long he's been downstairs, but would it be too much to ask you to request Alfred to walk upstairs."
The lady burst into a sudden tempest of tears.
"I know you'll only laugh at me--I know you well enough to expect you to do that--but--I--I know I've not been a good woman, and--and I do love him--although--he's only--a--servant!"
"A servant! Gertrude! Was that the man who opened the door?"
Mr. Golden gave vent to an exclamation which positively amounted to a shout. "By Jove!--I've got it!--I knew I'd seen the face before--I couldn't make out where--it was the man who opened the door. Your Grace, might I ask you to have that man who opened the door to us at once brought here?"
"Ring the bell, Mr. Golden."
The lady interposed. "You shan't--I won't have it! What do you want with him?"
"We wish to ask him one or two questions. If Alfred is an honest man it will be better for him that he should have an opportunity of answering them. If he is not an honest man, it will be better for you that you should know it."
Apparently this reasoning prevailed. Mr. Golden rang the bell; but his ring was not by any means immediately attended to. He rang a second and a third time, but still no answer came.