While he spoke there came a letter—"By hand. Sir Robert Steele. Bearer waits."
"Dear Sir Robert,
"Come to see me as soon as you can. I have had the most terrible night.
"Yours,
"L. W."
"Again! Three terrible nights for the three principal conspirators. The devil is in the business, I believe. Now, Dick, I have to call on Lady Woodroffe. Before I go to see this lady——"
"I sincerely hope she will treat you as she did me. The manners of the aristocracy never showed to such advantage in my experience."
"Before I go to see this lady——" Sir Robert repeated.
Again Richard interrupted him. "We cannot afford to wait any longer. Mrs. Haveril's condition forbids it. I have determined to write to Humphrey. I shall begin by informing him of his father's death. I shall invite him to join me in paying his father's debts. I shall then advertise the death of Anthony Woodroffe in the Marylebone Infirmary as the father of Sir Humphrey Woodroffe. That will make him do something. If he likes to go to law, we will meet him; if he wishes to see me, I will tell him everything."