“Then will you kindly allow one of my men to bring me supper and a couch of some kind, and I shall be obliged if the ladies may sup with me.”
“That they shall,” assented Mr. Graves. “Mr. Maxwell, will you escort them here?”
Hubert, who was turning away, nodded and disappeared round the yew-hedge. Lackington, who had been talking in an undertone to the pursuivants, now went up another alley with one of them and Mr. Nichol, and disappeared too in the gathering gloom of the garden. The other two pursuivants separated and each moved a few steps off and remained just out of sight. Plainly they were to remain on guard. Mr. Buxton and the magistrate sat down on a couple of garden-chairs.
“That is an obstinate fellow, sir,” said Mr. Graves.
“They are certainly both of them very offensive fellows, sir. I was astonished at your indulgence towards them.”
The magistrate was charmed by this view of the case, and remained talking with Mr. Buxton until footsteps again were heard, and the two ladies appeared, with Hubert with them, and a couple of men carrying each a tray and the other necessaries he had asked for.
Mr. Buxton and the magistrate rose to meet the ladies and bowed.
“I cannot tell you,” began their host elaborately, “what distress all this affair has given me. I trust you will forgive any inconvenience you may have suffered.”
Both Isabel and Mary looked white and strained, but they responded gallantly; and as the table was being prepared the four talked almost as if there were no bitter suspense at three of their hearts at least. Mr. Graves was nervous and uneasy, but did his utmost to propitiate Mary. At last he was on the point of withdrawing, when Mr. Buxton entreated him to sup with them.
“I must not,” he said; “I am responsible for your property, Mr. Buxton.”