triumph of the earlier part of the day seemed to lie far back in a misty and unimportant past. There was a new world and a greater, if fortune willed that he should enter it.
CHAPTER XI
Trent was awakened next morning by the sound of carriage wheels in the drive below. He rang his bell at once. After a few moments' delay it was answered by one of his two men-servants.
“Whose carriage is that in the drive?” he asked. “It is a fly for Mr. Da Souza, sir.”
“What! has he gone?” Trent exclaimed.
“Yes, sir, he and Mrs. Da Souza and the young lady.”
“And Miss Montressor and her friend?”
“They shared the fly, sir. The luggage all went down in one of the carts.”
Trent laughed outright, half scornfully, half in amusement.
“Listen, Mason,” he said, as the sound of wheels died away. “If any of those people come back again they are not to be admitted—do you hear? if they bring their luggage you are not to take it in. If they come themselves you are not to allow them to enter the house. You understand that?”
“Yes, sir.
“Very good! Now prepare my bath at once, and tell the cook, breakfast in half an hour. Let her know that I am hungry. Breakfast for one, mind! Those fools who have just left will get a morning paper at the station and they may come back. Be on the look-out for them and let the other servants know. Better have the lodge gate locked.”
“Very good, sir.”
The man who had been lamenting the loss of an easy situation and possibly even a month's wages, hastened to spread more reassuring news in the lower regions. It was a practical joke of the governor's—very likely a ruse to get rid of guests who had certainly been behaving as though the Lodge was their
Prev.
Back
Top