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By the time a suitable retort had occurred to the ex-steward the steamer was half a mile distant, and the extraordinary and unnatural pantomime in which he indulged on the edge of the quay was grievously misinterpreted by a nervous man in a sailing boat.
Wilks plied the rod again until his victim, with a sudden turn, fetched him a violent kick on the shin and broke loose. The ex-steward set off in pursuit, somewhat handicapped by the fact that he dare not go over flower-beds, whilst Master Hardy was singularly free from such prejudices. Miss Nugent ran to the side-entrance to cut off his retreat.
It was clear that they felt absolutely sure of their men so sure that there was no need to hurry. Kemp, conspicuous in his ugly German khaki, was shepherding them upwards. Ken bit his lip. Inwardly he vowed that he would never be taken alive by the ex-steward. He had a pretty shrewd idea of what his fate and Roy's would be if they fell into Kemp's clutches.
No one but a Chesnel, an old notary, an ex-steward of the manor, old Maitre Sorbier's junior clerk, in the sudden flash of lucidity which comes with despair, could rise thus, high as a Napoleon, nay, higher. This was not Marengo, it was Waterloo, and the Prussians had come up; Chesnel saw this, and was determined to beat them off the field.
While the matter of the sale was being settled between Monsieur Margueron and the Comte de Serizy, assisted by their respective notaries in presence of Monsieur de Reybert, the ex-steward walked with slow steps to his own house. There he entered the salon and sat down without noticing anything.
The ex-steward was delighted to see him, and after showing him various curios picked up during his voyages, took him to the small yard in the rear festooned with scarlet-runner beans, and gave him a chair in full view of the neighbours. "I'm the only visitor to-night?" said Hardy, after an hour's patient listening and waiting. Mr. Wilks nodded casually. "Miss Kate came last night," he said.
Wilks, as though in search of any hidden charms about him which might hitherto have escaped her. At the same time Mr. James Hardy, walking slowly home by the edge of the sea, pondered on further ways and means of ensnaring the affection of the ex-steward. The anticipations of Mr. Wilks were more than realized on the following Tuesday.
The doors of the hall were thrown open, and the mild, balmy air of a clear spring morning was ventilating the apartment, where the vigilance of the ex-steward had been so long maintaining an artificial heat with such unremitted diligence. The gentlemen were impatiently waiting for their mornings repast, each equipped in the garb of a sportsman. Mr.
Wilks and the other on the clock, and it was not until that ancient timepiece struck the hour that the ex-steward suddenly realized the awkward state of affairs. "Any more 'elp I can give you I shall always be pleased to," he said, looking at the clock. Hardy thanked him at great length, wondering, as he spoke, whether Miss Nugent was of punctual habits.
Wilks and the other on the clock, and it was not until that ancient timepiece struck the hour that the ex-steward suddenly realized the awkward state of affairs. "Any more 'elp I can give you I shall always be pleased to," he said, looking at the clock. Hardy thanked him at great length, wondering, as he spoke, whether Miss Nugent was of punctual habits.
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