"All except the boy on duty in the bar, and," added Mr. Jellyband with a laugh, "I expect he'll be asleep afore long, the rascal.""Then we can talk here undisturbed for half an hour?""At your service, my lord. . . . I'll leave your candles on the dresser. . .and your rooms are quite ready. . .I sleep at the top of the house myself, but if your lordship'll only call loudly enough, I daresay I shall hear.""All right, Jelly. . .and. . .I say, put the lamp out--the fire'll give us all the light we need--and we don't want to attract the passer-by.""Al ri', my lord."
Mr. Jellyband did as he was bid--he turned out the quaint old lamp that hung from the raftered ceiling and blew out all the candles.
"Let's have a bottle of wine, Jelly," suggested Sir Andrew.
"Al ri', sir!"
Jellyband went off to fetch the wine. The room now was quite dark, save for the circle of ruddy and fitful light formed by the brightly blazing logs in the hearth.
"Is that all, gentlemen?" asked Jellyband, as he returned with a bottle of wine and a couple of glasses, which he placed on the table.
"That'll do nicely, thanks, Jelly!" said Lord Tony.
"Good-night, my lord! Good-night, sir!"
"Good-night, Jelly!"