Larkspur. "And now, if I may make so bold as to mention it, I
should be glad to get a morsel of dinner, and a glass of brandy-and-
water, cold without; after which I'll take a turn in the village and
look about me. There may be something to be picked up in that direction
by a man who keeps his eyes and ears open."
Mr. Larkspur was consigned to the care of the butler, who conducted him
at once to the housekeeper's room, where that very important person,
Mrs. Smithson, received him with almost regal condescension.
Mrs. Smithson and the butler both would have been very glad to converse
with Mr. Larkspur, and to find out from that gentleman's conversation
who he was, and all about him; but Mr. Larkspur himself had no
inclination to be communicative. He responded courteously, but briefly,
to all Mrs. Smithson's civilities; and after eating the best part of a
cold roast chicken, and a pound or so of ham, and drinking about half a
pint of cognac, he left the housekeeper's room, and retired to an
apartment to which the butler ushered him--a very comfortable little
sitting-room, leading into a small bedchamber, which two rooms were to
be occupied by Mr. Larkspur during his residence at the castle.
Here he employed himself until dark in writing short notes to the chief
police-officers of all the principal towns in England, ordering the
printing and posting of the handbills of which he had spoken to Lady
Eversleigh and the captain.
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