"Mr Greyquill!" echoed the Admiral, looking with a changed face at the footman.
"Mr Greyquill!" cried Miss Acton. "Why, he may have come with news of Lucy. Bid him step in!"
The footman disappeared.
"What on earth but some news of my daughter can bring Greyquill here at this hour?" said Captain Acton.
The Admiral looked deaf, and continued to stare at the door, which in a few moments was again flung open, and Mr Greyquill entered.
CHAPTER IX MR GREYQUILL'S VISIT
Mr Greyquill entered the room by two paces, and placing his hand upon the spot where he supposed his heart to lie, made three separate bows to the company, each of the "Your most humble and obedient servant" school; it was an expression of ceremony which for mingled respect and senility should have pleased, as it no doubt did please, Miss Acton.
He was a figure striking in its way as he made these bows, with his long, snow-white hair, his heavy white eyebrows, his long curling nose, the purely congenital satiric leer that characterised the formation of his thin lips; and his faded dress, which was a very good representation of his mind, aided the impression produced by his face.