With a nod--the nod which we give nowadays when we are saying farewell
with a broken heart--he turned the horse down the hill and rode away.
He tossed his things into a portmanteau, got the one available trap to
carry them to the station, and caught the night mail. At Salisbury he
changed for Southampton, and reached that flourishing port the next
morning.
The sailing master of the _Seagull_ happened to be on board when the
owner of that well-known yacht was rowed alongside, and he hastened to
the side and touched his hat as Drake climbed the ladder.
"Did you wire, my lord?" he asked. "I haven't had anything."
"No; I came rather unexpectedly," said Drake quietly. "Is everything
ready?"
"Quite, my lord, or nearly so. I think we could sail, say, in half a
dozen hours."
Drake nodded.
"If my cabin is ready, I'll go below and change," he said. "We'll sail
as soon as possible."
"Certainly, my lord. Where are we bound for?" asked Mr. Murphy, in as
casual a manner as he could manage; for, though he was used to short
notice, this, to quote his expression to the mate later on, "took the
cake."
Drake looked absently at the sky line.
"Oh, the Mediterranean, I suppose," he said listlessly. He stood for a
moment with his hand upon the rail of the saloon steps, and Mr. Murphy
ventured to inquire: "Quite well, I hope, my lord?" for there was a pallor on his lordship's
face which caused the worthy skipper a vague uneasiness. He had seen his
master under various and peculiar circumstances, but had never seen him
look quite like this.
"Perfectly well and fit, thanks, captain," said Drake. "Will you have a
cigar? Wind will just suit us, will it not?"
* * * * * About the same time Nell's cab arrived at Wolfer House, Egerton Square.
There were several other cabs and carriages standing in a line opposite
the house, and Nell's cab had to wait some little time before it could
set her down; but at last she was able to alight, and a footman
escorted her and her box into a large and rather gloomy hall. He seemed
somewhat surprised by her box, and eyed her doubtfully as she inquired
for Lady Wolfer.
"Lady Wolfer? Yes, miss. Her ladyship is in the dining room. The meeting
is now on. Perhaps you had better walk in."
Sharing the man's hesitation, Nell followed him to the door. As he
opened it, the sound of a woman's voice, thin, yet insistent and
rasping, came out to meet her. She saw that the room was crowded. Nearly
all who were present were women--women of various ages, but all with
some peculiarity of manner or dress which struck Nell at the very first
moment. But there were some men present--men with fat and rather flabby
faces, men small and feeble in appearance, men long-haired and
smooth-shaven.