"Will you be so kind as to tell this man who I am, Mr. Gum. He is
mistaking me for some one else."
"This is the Earl of Hartledon," said Jabez, promptly.
A moment's hesitation on the officer's part; but he felt too sure of his
man to believe this. "I'll take the risk," said he, stolidly. "Where's
the good of your holding out, Mr. Elster?"
"Come this way, then!" cried Lord Hartledon, beginning to lose his
temper. "And if you carry this too far, my man, I'll have you punished."
He went striding up to the Rectory. Had he taken a moment for
consideration, he might have turned away, rather than expose this
misfortune of Val's there. The doctor came into the hall, and was
recognized as the Rector, and there was some little commotion; Anne's
white face looking on from a distance. The man was convinced, and took
his departure, considerably crestfallen.
"What is the amount?" called the doctor, sternly.
"Not very much, _this_, sir. It's under three hundred."
Which was as much as to say there was more behind it. Dr. Ashton mentally
washed his hands of Percival Elster as a future son-in-law.
The first intimation that ill-starred gentleman received of the untoward
turn affairs were taking was from the Rector himself.
Mr. Percival Elster had been chuckling over that opportune sore throat,
as a means of keeping his brother indoors; and it never occurred to him
that Lord Hartledon would venture out at all on the Monday.
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