"Oh, it's different with me. Miss Dalton wrote that she would come to
see me this morning, and I'm afraid she's ill, so I have come to see
her."

"She beant ill, then," said the other.

Miss Plympton reflected that it was of no use to talk to this man, and
thought of Wiggins himself.

"Is your master in?" she asked.

"He is, mum."

"Tell him I wish to see him."

"Beggin' yer pardon, mum, he never sees nobody."

"But I wish to see him on business of a very important kind."

"Can't help it, mum--beggin' yer pardon; but I've got to obey orders,
mum."

"My good fellow, can't you take my message, or let me in to see him?"

"Sorry, mum, but I can't; I've got my orders."

"But he can't know. This business is so important that it will be very
bad for him if he does not see me now. Tell him that. Go, now; you
can't know what his business is. Tell him that--"