Part 45 (2/2)
”You were expecting us, then?” said d.i.c.k, as the little man put his head on one side, and glanced from the young officer to his father, and back again.
”Yes, sir. Master said you might come at any time, so I sat up.”
”All right, father; they're here. What time did they come, Vidler?”
”They, sir?”
”Yes--my sisters,” said d.i.c.k impatiently. ”What time did they come?”
”Miss Renee came here about half-past ten, sir.”
”There, dad,” whispered d.i.c.k. ”And Frank swore she'd gone off with Malpas. I knew it wasn't true. He wouldn't insult a brother officer like that.”
”I'm very glad, my boy--I'm very glad,” said Sir Humphrey feebly; and d.i.c.k turned to Vidler again.
”And Miss Gertrude, what time did she get here?”
”Miss Gertrude, sir?”
”Don't be a stupid old idiot!” cried d.i.c.k excitedly. ”I say--what-- time--did--my--sister--Gertrude-get here?”
”She has not been here, sir,” replied the little man--”not to-night.”
d.i.c.k looked blankly at his father, and, in spite of his determination not to believe the story suggested about his sister, it seemed to try and force itself upon his brain.
”Where is Mrs Morrison?” he cried at last.
”Lying down, sir. Salome is watching by her. She seemed in great distress, sir, and,” he added in a whisper, ”we think master came out of his room and went to her when we had gone down.”
”Poor Robert!” muttered Sir Humphrey.
”Master's very much distressed about her, gentlemen. Miss Renee is a very great favourite of his.”
”Is my uncle awake, do you think?”
”I think so, sir,” was the reply.
”Ask him if he will say a few words to my father and me. Tell him we are in great trouble.”
The little man bowed and went upstairs, returning at the end of a minute or two to request them to walk up.
”Last time I was here,” thought d.i.c.k, ”I asked him for a couple of tenners, and he told me never to come near him again. A stingy old hunks! But, there, he's kind to the girls.”
The little panel opened as Vidler closed the door, and Sir Humphrey, looking very old, and grey of hair and face, sat looking at it, leaving his son to open the conversation.
”Well, Humphrey, what is it?” said the voice behind the wainscoting.
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