“Hold your tongue!” commanded the officer; and Mrs. Malplaquet obeyed.
Then Mr. Bellward returned with the news that he had at last got a taxi. Strangwise turned to Bellward.
“Can Minna and the girl go to Campden Hill alone?” he asked. “Or will the girl try and break away, do you think?”
Bellward held up his hand to enjoin silence.
“You will go along with Mrs. Malplaquet,” he said to Barbara in his low purring voice, “you will stay with her until I come. You understand?”
“I will go with Mrs. Malplaquet!” the girl replied in the same dull tone as before.
“Upon my word,” exclaimed Mrs. Malplaquet, “you might have told me that we were going to my own place...”
But Strangwise shut her up.
“Bellward and I will come on by tube... it is safer,” he said, “hurry, hurry! We must all be under cover by eight o’clock... we have no time to lose!”