"Yes, Miss Grant," he said. "Lord Heyton has been called away on most
important business. Most unfortunate! But there was no help for it."
He waited until Mrs. Dexter had gone, then, with his eyes fixed on
Celia's face, he said to her, "Will you please tell the Marquess that Lord Heyton has gone? And you
might say that his return is quite uncertain; in fact--er--he has gone
abroad."
Celia's ingenuous countenance expressed her surprise, which seemed to
satisfy Mr. Jacobs.
"Now," he said, briskly, "I'm going to see the prisoner, Mr. Sydney
Green." The colour rose to Celia's face; but her eyes met Mr. Jacobs'
steadily. "Have you any message for him, Miss Grant?"
"Yes," said Celia in a low voice and after a pause. "Will you tell him,
please, that I will come to him, if--if I am allowed to do so?"
"You may go and see Mr. Green whenever you please, my dear Miss Grant,"
said Mr. Jacobs. As he turned away, he added, "By the way, perhaps you'd
like to know I'm going to take Mr. Clendon with me. I beg his lordship's
pardon--I mean, the Marquess."
Celia looked bewildered for a moment; then she sighed.
"Yes. I am rather confused. I am glad you are going to take him with
you; very glad."
"So am I," said Mr. Jacobs, with his bland, innocent smile.