“I’m paying double wages,” said Crofts shortly.
“I agree with Stephen,” declared Belvoir. “And I don’t think wages alone cut much figure.”
“Tell them, Crofts,” said Alberta.
Her husband looked a bit abashed, but having encountered the steady beam of her eye, growled, “Blenkinson.”
“Elucidate,” I said.
“Blest if I know,” confessed Crofts. “But there’s the fact. The fellow’s a perfect lord among the community, and somehow he’s induced the lot to believe that he’s able to protect ’em. I don’t know his method. He just assured me I could depend on him.”
Silence fell, in which the clock was audible, and I noticed that it was a quarter to ten.
Alberta yawned and made a gesture of weariness. “What do you say to ten o’clock bed, people?”
Assent was unanimous.