Dalton an agent that will free Miss Dalton and bring her here. Leave it
to me. If I don't go, I'll send--yes, by Heaven, I'll send my son. But
give yourself no trouble, madam. Miss Dalton is as good as free at this
moment, and Wiggins is as good as in jail."

Miss Plympton now asked Sir Lionel if he knew what Wiggins meant by his
answer to her threat, and she repeated the message. Sir Lionel listened
with compressed lips and a frowning brow. After Miss Plympton had told
it he sat for some minutes in silent thought.

"So that is what he said, is it!" exclaimed Sir Lionel at last. "Well,
madam, we shall see about that. But don't give yourself a moment's
uneasiness. I take the matter in hand from this moment. The insolence of
this fellow, Wiggins, is unparalleled, madam; but be assured all this
shall surely recoil on his own head with terrible effect."

Some further conversation followed to the same effect, and at length
Miss Plympton took her leave, full of hope and without a care. Sir
Lionel had hinted that she was not needed any more in the matter; and as
she felt a natural delicacy about obtruding her services, she decided to
go back to Plympton Terrace and wait.

Accordingly, Miss Plympton, on leaving Dudleigh Manor, went back to
Plympton Terrace.

* * * * *