And she led off the astounded Duke to the pony-carriage, made him get into it, and drove away with him, followed by the boy with the sharply-pointed nose, who ran vociferously behind, objurgating those who thus usurped his position of coachman at the top of his shrill treble voice.
Meanwhile Mrs. Verulam had begged off the paragon, for the Bun Emperor, on being confronted with a pretty woman almost in tears, developed unexpected susceptibilities, and became almost polite.
"Let him go, Mr. Harrison," said the Emperor to the groom of the chambers, who was nowhere near Mr. Bush—"let the ruffian go!"
"Rely on me, sir," was the groom of the chambers' apt reply.
"We do, Mr. Harrison, we do. Me and Mrs. Lite is not insensible of your services."
The groom of the chambers inclined himself and stepped into the bus, to which he was shortly followed by the detectives, the constables, and the Emperor, who said to Mrs. Verulam in parting:
"Frederick is picking the bullets"—Miss Bindler's—"out of the palace walls, ma'am. When this is done, me and Mrs. Lite would be obliged if we could return to the home. Your time is nearly up."
"I consider it quite up," said Mrs. Verulam, who had no very pleasant recollections of Ribton Marches. "Pray return whenever you please."
The Emperor drove away in high feather, after excusing himself to Mr. Rodney for breaking his word, and breaking out of the fishing-cottage. The paragon and Mr. Minnidick had now returned to their interrupted avocations. Mr. Bush was sulkily digging among the sprouts. Mr. Minnidick was busy with the mulching and the marl. Mrs. Verulam looked towards her idea of Agag.
"I suppose I ought to say good-bye to him," she said rather tremulously.