CHAPTER TWOSir Roderick’s tired old voice faltered into silence and he fell asleep. His physician bent forward, felt his pulse and said in a low voice to Lord Melburne,
“He will sleep now for some hours.”
“I will return later,” Lord Melburne replied.
He walked quietly across the bedroom and opened the door. Outside to his astonishment he found a footman bending down, his ear to the keyhole.
When he saw Lord Melburne, he straightened himself up, stared at him for a moment in what seemed an insolent manner and then turned and ran down the corridor as fast as his legs could carry him.
Lord Melburne raised his eyebrows and walked down the staircase. When he reached the hall, he hesitated for a moment and the butler came forward to inform him,
“Miss Clarinda is in the salon, my Lord.”
“T
