‘Well, I don’t think he meant it to be a compliment,’ said Pen doubtfully.
He smiled but said nothing. The waiter came back into the room with a laden tray, and began to set various dishes on thetable. When he had withdrawn, Sir Richard pulled a chair out for Pen, and said: ‘You are served, brat. Hungry?’
‘Not very,’ she replied, sitting down.
He moved to his own place. ‘Why, how is this?’
‘Well, I don’t know. Piers is going to elope with Lydia at midnight.’
‘I trust that circumstance has not taken away your appetite?’
‘Oh no! I think they will deal famously together, for they are both very silly.’
‘True. What had you to do with their elopement?’
‘Oh, very little, I assure you, sir! Lydia made up her mind to do it without any urging from me. All I did was to hire the post-chaise for Piers, on account of his being well-known in Keynsham.’
‘I suppose that means that we shall be obliged to sustain another visit from Major Daubenay. I seem to be plunging deeper and deeper into a life of crime.’
She looked up enquiringly. ‘Why, sir? You have done nothing!’
‘I am aware. But I undoubtedly should do something.’
‘Oh no, it is all arranged! There is truly nothing left to do.’
‘You don’t think that I – as one having reached years of discretion – might perhaps be expected to nip this shocking affair in the bud?’
‘Tell the Major, do you mean?’ Pen cried. ‘Oh, Richard, you would not do such a cruel thing? I am persuaded you could not!’
He refilled his glass. ‘I could, very easily, but I won’t. I am not, to tell you the truth, much interested in the affairs of a pair of lovers whom I have found, from the outset, extremely tiresome. Shall we discuss instead our own affairs?’
‘Yes, I think we ought to,’ she agreed. ‘I have been so busy today I had almost forgot the stammering man. I do trust, Richard, we shall not be arrested!’
‘Indeed, so do I!’ he said, laughing.
‘It’s very well to laugh, but I could see that Mr Philips did not like us at all.’
‘I fear that your activities disarranged his mind. Fortunately, news has reached him that a man whom I suspect of being none other than the egregious Captain Trimble has been taken up by the authorities in Bath.’
‘Good gracious, I never thought he would be caught! Pray, had he the necklace?’
‘That, I am as yet unable to tell you. It is to be hoped that Luttrell and his bride will not prolong their honeymoon, since I fancy Lydia will be wanted to identify the prisoner.’
‘If she knew that, I dare say she would never come back at all,’ said Pen.
‘A public-spirited female,’ commented Sir Richard.
She giggled. ‘She has no spirit at all. Itoldyou so, sir! Will the – the authorities wish to see me?’
‘I hardly think so. In any event, they are not going to see you.’
‘No, I must say I feel it might be excessively awkward if I were forced to appear,’ remarked Pen. ‘In fact, sir, I think – I think I had better go home, don’t you?’
He looked at her. ‘To your Aunt Almeria, brat?’
‘Yes, of course. There is nowhere else for me to go.’
‘And Cousin Fred?’
