Egerton Castle

“ Ferrars, at any rate, when he returned to his table, after escorting his guest to the door under the arcades, and, toying with a final glass of wine, gave himself up to doubtful meditations upon his future course, came to the conclusion that he had seen the last of Baron von Hanstedt.
THE next morning, however, brought a prompt denial to that rash conclusion. After a night of uneasy wakefulness he was aroused from a late slumber by the entrance of a waiter:
“Begging your pardon, sir,” said the man, “there is a gentleman here, who says he must see you at once. Most important he says. ”

“ May I not come and—say, smoke a cigar with you in the evening and hear what fortune you have met with in your inquiries?”
Mr. Ferrars pondered a moment.
“If you will partake of a quiet dinner with me, I shall be delighted. I have no great hopes, being, as you know, so trammeled. But we may consult. And, meanwhile, I remain greatly obliged to you.”
AT SEVEN on the following day Baron von Hanstedt was ushered into the dining-room of the Piazza—a notable dandy, whose brilliant appearance and manner distinctly raised the modest visitor of the small valise in the manager's estimation. ”

“ Johnstone—my father's own lawyer—whom I thought it wiser also to visit. He seemed, it is true, rather concerned; but he pointed out, rightly enough, that, considering the peculiar relation in which I stood now with his client, he was not at liberty to discuss his affairs and movements with me. Nevertheless, when, after a very brief interview, I was taking my departure, he reminded me, though with some hesitation, of the advisability of my being within reach of summons on the morning of the fifteenth.”
“The fifteenth,” repeated von Hanstedt with an air of intense mystification. ”

“ I have warned him, just as for myself—a clever fellow, a Frenchman and knows Paris. Within forty-eight hours you shall alight at the Bureau de la Sûreté, take chief of police's sanction—and act. Act without loss of an hour! ”

“ He appeared to be in some anxiety concerning Sir Jasper, who has not been heard of for a considerable time.
We were not able, of course, to give him any information; nor do we surmise that you would be more likely, given the circumstances, to do so. Mr. Johnstone, then, though in an informal manner, suggested that we should be acting in your interest if we could induce you—though for what reason he was not at liberty to say—to make sure to be in London some time before the fifteenth of October ”

“ Already a day has been wasted.
“As for expense—it will be a trifle to what I should lose by absenting myself—you will, of course, let me discharge that. You need not scruple; if, as I hope to God, we rescue Sir Jasper, he will repay the debt. Here are the traveling funds.”
He produced a bundle of bank-notes which he slapped upon the table.
“Should you require more, you can write to me. You see I have thought of everything. You have your passports?”
While the Brunswicker rattled on sanguine, voluble, Ferrars—awake now with a vengeance—flung the letter on the table and sprang out of bed ”

“ The fifteenth again,” murmured the Brunswicker, sipping his wine with half-closed eyes.
“For,” went on the Englishman, “that was a date on which Sir Jasper's attendance at the bank would be a matter of importance. But, if he was not heard of by that time, there might indeed be cause for some alarm. Then, the manager said, advice might with propriety be sought from Bow Street. But he confidently trusted that would not be required.”
“Bow Street#Law? Gad, no, no; let us also trust there will be no need—and is that all?” ”

“ We shall be, in any case, pleased to consider the matter with you at any time.
We remain, etc., etc.
“Singular,” murmured the captain, after the perusal. Then, looking steadily into his traveling companion's eyes. “And you have no idea of the business to be transacted on the fifteenth?”
“Not the remotest,” answered Ferrars, taking back the letter. “But, so long as I am fully assured that I shall not be brought face to face with my father, I shall of course attend if called upon.”
The other fell back into his seat and resumed his cigar, musingly. ”