shall have all this."

But the man did not look at the purse at all. His eyes were fixed on
Miss Plympton, and he merely replied as before:

"Sorry, mum, but it's agin orders."

"Very well," said Miss Plympton. "There is only one thing left for me to
do. I wish you to take one final message from me to your master. Tell
him this: It is my intention to procure help for Miss Dalton at once.
Tell him that her uncle, Sir Lionel Dudleigh, is now in England, and
that this very day I shall set out for Dudleigh Manor, I shall tell Sir
Lionel how his niece is situated, and bring him here. He will come with
his own claims and the officers of the law. Wiggins shall be arrested,
together with all who have aided and abetted him. If he refuses to admit
me now, I shall quit this place and go at once without delay. Go, now,
and make haste, for this matter is of too great importance to be decided
by you."

The porter seemed to think so too, for, touching his hat, he at once
withdrew. This time he was gone longer than before, and Miss Plympton
waited for his return with great impatience. At length he came back.

"Mr. Wiggins presents his respects, mum," said the man, "and says he is
not breakin' any law at all, and that if you choose to go for Sir
Lionel, he is willin' to have you do so. He says if you fetch Sir
Lionel here he will let both of you in. He says he'll be very happy
indeed to see Sir Lionel."

This singular way of taking what was meant to be a most formidable