“We shall pay out the more slowly,” the banker answered with grim humor.
“And I doubt, besides,” said Clement, “if Bourdillon would listen to Rodd.”
“Will he listen to you?”
“He will have to, or face the consequences!” And Clement looked as if he meant it: a hard Clement this, with a new note in his voice. “From the India House to Bow Street is not very far, and he will certainly go to Bow Street—or the Mansion House—if he does not see reason. But he will.”
“He may, if you are with him before he parts with the securities. But from this to noon to-morrow you will not do it in that time, my lad, at night? Winter time, too? You’ll never do it!”
But Clement averred that he would—in fourteen hours, with good luck. It was for that reason that he had gone straight to the Lion and ordered a chaise for eight o’clock and sent on word by the seven o’clock coach for a relay to be ready at the Heygate Inn. He had also asked the Lion to pass on word by any chaise starting in front of him. “So I hope for two or three stages I shall find the horses ready. Betty, pack up some food for me, that’s a good girl. I’ve only twenty minutes.”
“And your travelling cloak?” she cried. “I’ll air it.”
“You must eat something before you start,” said his father.
“Yes, I will. And, Rodd, do you get me the bank pistols—and see that they are loaded!”
The banker nodded. “Yea, you’d better take them,” he said. “It’s an immense sum—if you bring it back. It would be a terrible business if you were robbed.”