"I'm not at home. Can't see anybody," said Carrington.
"That's not true, young man, and you've got to see me," replied a voice, and, as the door opened, to his astonishment Aunt Eliza advanced into the middle of the room, which was littered with his toilet articles.
"Why, Miss Cogbill!" he exclaimed, rising to greet her, "I thought you were in Paris."
"So I should be if I hadn't been stopped at Calais by a telegram from that good-for-nothing Consul of yours."
"Allingford. Then you know where they are?"
"I've also heard from Scarsdale and Mrs. Allingford."
"Yes. Sit down and I'll tell you about it." Which he proceeded to do, and also about Lady Scarsdale's visit.
"Just so," commented Aunt Eliza when he had finished. "Now what do you propose doing next?"
"I suppose the proper thing would be to put the two couples in communication with each other," suggested Jack.
"Well, I'm not so sure," she said. "You and I are the only ones who know all the facts, and we must not act in a hurry. Now there's Allingford and Mabel down at Melton Court. They'll keep till to-morrow, I guess. It would just spoil her night's rest to know that her husband was in jail at Winchester, and send her over to him by the first train to-morrow morning, like as not, to weep on his neck and complicate the course of justice. Anyway, I don't think the two couples had better meet till we are present to soothe their ruffled feelings; for, after the mess that the Consul's brother has got them into, I dare say that, left to themselves, the Scarsdales and Allingfords wouldn't be real cordial to each other. But I see you are packing up. Now where are you going?"
"I was going down to Salisbury, at Lady Scarsdale's request."
"You're needed elsewhere. You go right down to Winchester this evening, so as you can be there when the court opens first thing to-morrow morning, to identify my good-for-nothing nephew, liberate him, and send him and Mrs. Allingford over to Melton Court as soon as you can. I'll be there before you to break the news to Mabel."
"Well, you see," he said, "I've promised her ladyship."
"Never mind that; your business is to fish these young people out of their troubles. I'll drive at once to Lady Scarsdale's hotel, and tell her of your change of plans, and go down myself by the first train to-morrow morning to Salisbury."