"By Jove, Billy!" I said. "I suppose Maurice still thinks he's come into all Prado's money."
"You bet he does," chuckled Billy.
I gave a joyous peal at the bell, and in a few moments the door opened, and I found myself face to face with the pretty housemaid.
She uttered a low exclamation of surprise and delight. "Oh, sir!" she cried, "you've come back, you've come back!"
"Of course I have," I said. "I told you I should, and I often speak the truth."
She stepped back to make room for us, and we passed through into the farther hall.
"Where's Mr. Furnivall?" I asked.
She opened the inner door. "Mr. Furnivall—" she began, and then she stopped short; for there, at the foot of the staircase, stood Maurice himself, staring at me with an expression in which amazement, hatred, and fear were very evenly blended.
Some idea of bolting must have passed through his mind, for I saw him make a quick half-turn towards the banisters. Then I suppose the futility of the proceeding struck him, for with a big effort he regained his self-control, and advanced towards us with an ill-assumed air of dignity.
"I should have imagined," he said, "that this was the last place you would have had the impertinence to come to!"