“I regret I cannot oblige you, Miss Miller; but I promised my mother I would not drink, and it is impossible that I can go back on my word.”
Vance Thornton was himself again.
Sadie Miller had not found him such an easy proposition after all.
A look of chagrin rested for a moment on the lady’s face, while Sid Carrington uttered a strong invective under his breath.
But the affair was instantly passed off with a laugh, and the boy found himself once more at his ease.
The coffee for Vance and the ale for Dudley presently arrived, and then another slight signal was made by the host which the girl understood.
The conspirators were about to play their last card.
In the most natural way imaginable Dudley attracted Vance’s attention for a moment, and the boy half turned away from Miss Miller.
During that instant she leaned slightly forward, extended her arm and dropped something into the coffee.
It was all done in a moment, and when Vance turned again to the young lady she was in the act of drinking from her own glass of Madeira.