Almost as if it was an echo, as he spoke, they heard a woman’s voice say on the other side of the wall,
“My carriage and horses are drenched. May I stay here until the storm has abated?”
It was a soft, rather attractive voice and Jimmy thought that in some strange way she sounded a little frightened.
“Yes, of course, ma’am,” he heard the landlord reply.
“Perhaps you’ll sit by the fire? And can I offer you a cup of tea? I feel sure you’d not take wine.”
“No, no, of course not,” the woman replied, “and a cup of tea would be very pleasant. Thank you.”
“I’ll see to it at once, ma’am.”
As the landlord finished speaking, he opened the door of the private parlour and came in carrying a bottle of French brandy and one of claret.
He also had a tray in his hands with four glasses on it and h
