"Nothing," answered Mullins with legal exactitude. But he quickly became more discursive under Captain Dove's threatening glance. "Mr. Jobling brought me here with him," he explained. "We arrived by the steamer an hour ago, after a most terrible passage. I never saw such—"
Captain Dove silenced him with a scowl. "Where's your master?" he demanded.
"In there," replied Mullins promptly, pointing to the door of the gun-room, which opened off the main hall; and Captain Dove, casting him loose without more words, marched in upon Mr. Jobling and Slyne in excited conference.
They looked round as the door opened, and the lawyer, seeing who the unceremonious intruder was, waved a fat hand in gleeful welcome. "We're safe now," he vociferated. "The Jura succession is settled at last. Where's Lady Josceline? She'll be Countess of Jura in her own right as soon as—"
"Not so much of your noise," Captain Dove commanded, and, suddenly, reopening the door, all but overset himself in accomplishing a hasty kick, which elicited a loud yelp from without.
"Was that Mullins!" Mr. Jobling exclaimed. "I don't know what I'm to do with him. He's really becoming a dangerous nuisance. I had to bring him away from London with me to prevent him—"
"He'll keep clear of keyholes for a while," Captain Dove put in confidently. "Now let's hear your news."
Mr. Jobling's clouded face cleared again. "You've heard it already," he said. "I've won our case. The Chancery Court has admitted my proofs. We are to attend again, all of us, the day after to-morrow if possible, when Mr. Justice Gaunt will give us decree. And Lady Josceline will be the Countess of Jura as soon as—"
"When will she get any money?" asked Captain Dove bluntly, and Mr. Jobling looked pained.
"By Friday, I should think," he stated, "I'll have everything in such shape that she can draw a cheque for a mill—"