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.“Should Mr.Bullrose find it expedient to climb a tree, or even a sign-post,” proceeded Dalroy, for indeed the Agent had already clasped the pole of “The Old Ship,” which was stouter than the slender trees standing just around it, “you will keep an eye on him, Quoodle, and, I doubt not, constantly remind him that it is his wickedness, and not, as he might hastily be inclined to suppose, stupidity that has placed him on so conspicuous an elevation–”“Some of you’ll wish yourself dead for this,” said the Agent; who was by this time clinging to the wooden sign like a monkey on a stick, while Quoodle watched him from below with an unsated interest.“Some of you’ll see something.Here comes his lordship and the police, I reckon.”“Good morning, my lord,” said Dalroy, as Ivywood, paler than ever in the strong moonshine, came through the thicket toward them.It seemed to be his fate that his faultless and hueless face should always be contrasted with richer colours; and even now it was thrown up by the gorgeous diplomatic uniform of Dr.Gluck, who walked just behind him.“I am glad to see you, my lord,” said Dalroy, in a stately manner, “it is always so awkward doing business with an Agent.Especially for the Agent.”“Captain Dalroy,” said Lord Ivywood, with a more serious dignity, “I am sorry we meet again like this, and such things are not of my seeking.It is only right to tell you that the police will be here in a moment.”“Quite time, too!” said Dalroy, shaking his head.“I never saw anything so disgraceful in my life.Of course, I am sorry it’s a friend of yours; and I hope the police will keep Ivywood House out of the papers.But I won’t be a party to one law for the rich and another for the poor, and it would be a great shame if a man in that state got off altogether merely because he had got the stuff at your house.”“I do not understand you,” said Ivywood.“What are you talking of?”“Why of him,” replied the Captain, with a genial gesture toward a fallen tree trunk that lay a yard or two from the tunnel wall, “the poor chap the police are coming for.”Lord Ivywood looked at the forest log by the tunnel which he had not glanced at before, and in his pale eyes, perhaps for the first time, stood a simple astonishment.Above the log appeared two duplicate objects, which, after a prolonged stare, he identified as the soles of a pair of patent leather shoes, offered to his gaze, as if demanding his opinion in the matter of resoling.They were all that was visible of Mr.Hibbs who had fallen backward off his woodland seat and seemed contented with his new situation.His lordship put up the pince-nez that made him look ten years older, and said with a sharp, steely accent, “What is all this?”The only effect of his voice upon the faithful Hibbs was to cause him to feebly wave his legs in the air in recognition of a feudal superior.He clearly considered it hopeless to attempt to get up, so Dalroy, striding across to him, lugged him up by his shirt collar and exhibited him, limp and wild-eyed to the company.“You won’t want many policemen to take him to the station,” said the Captain.“I’m sorry, Lord Ivywood, I’m afraid it’s no use your asking me to overlook it again.We can’t afford it,” and he shook his head implacably.“We’ve always kept a respectable house, Mr.Pump and I.‘The Old Ship’ has a reputation all over the country–in quite a lot of different parts, in fact.People in the oddest places have found it a quiet, family house.Nothing gadabout in ‘The Old Ship.’ And if you think you can send all your staggering revellers–”“Captain Dalroy,” said Ivywood, simply, “you seem to be under a misapprehension, which I think it would be hardly honourable to leave undisturbed.Whatever these extraordinary events may mean and whatever be fitting in the case of this gentleman, when I spoke of the police coming, I meant they were coming for you and your confederate.”“For me!” cried the Captain, with a stupendous air of surprise
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