I added that I had adopted the extremest measures.
Thereupon, perceiving that I had something in my sleeve, as the saying
is, my caller besought me to confide in him. Without a word I handed
him a copy of my cable message sent that afternoon to his lordship:
_"Your immediate presence required to prevent a monstrous
folly."_
He brightened as he read it.
"You actually mean to say----" he began.
"His lordship," I explained, "will at once understand the nature of
what is threatened. He knows, moreover, that I would not alarm him
without cause. He will come at once, and the Honourable George will be
told what. His lordship has never failed. He tells him what perfectly,
and that's quite all to it. The poor chap will be saved."
My caller was profoundly stirred. "Coming here--to Red Gap--his
lordship the Earl of Brinstead--actually coming here! My God! This is
wonderful!" He paused; he seemed to moisten his dry lips; he began
once more, and now his voice trembled with emotion: "He will need a
place to stay; our hotel is impossible; had you thought----" He
glanced at me appealingly.
"I dare say," I replied, "that his lordship will be pleased to have
you put him up; you would do him quite nicely."
"You mean it--seriously? That would be--oh, inexpressible.
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