"No one else, sir," Bisgood answered with as much surprise as that functionary ever permitted himself.
"Better scoot, eh?" suggested Peckover in a panic-stricken whisper, as the butler left them.
"No. Let's go and hear what the old bird has to say," Gage replied, after a few moment's hesitation. "If any one is equal to tackling that Spanish nuisance she's the person. Let's go and hear how she takes it."
CHAPTER XXXIII
Lady Ormstork received them with pleasure tinged with just a shade of vexation. "We were so disappointed at not finding you at home to-day of all days," she exclaimed. "We heard this morning of an absurd misunderstanding which we were anxious to set right without delay. And we have been waiting nearly four hours."
"You've had tea?" Gage suggested, somewhat beside the point.
"Oh, yes, thank you," Miss Buffkin assured him.
"We heard casually," pursued Lady Ormstork, "that you had gone to call at the Moat, and naturally expected you would be back soon. But no doubt,"—this with a world of spiteful significance—"Lady Agatha Hemyock made a point of keeping you there as long as she could. I know her."
"Of course," said Gage gallantly, ignoring the suggestion, "if we had known you were waiting we should have been back long ago."