'Why are there no bells in this cursed room?' inquired Lord Cadurcis.
'The ropes are broken, my lord.'
'Why are they broken?'
'I can't say, my lord,'
'I cannot leave this house for a day but I find everything in
confusion. Bring me some Burgundy.'
'Yes, my lord. There is a young lad, my lord, called a few minutes
back, and asked for your lordship. He says he has something very
particular to say to your lordship. I told him your lordship was out
of town. He said your lordship would wish very much to see him, and
that he had come from the Abbey.'
'The Abbey!' said Cadurcis, in a tone of curiosity. 'Why did you not
show him in?'
'Your lordship said you were not at home to anybody.'
'Idiot! Is this anybody? Of course I would have seen him. What the
devil do I keep you for, sir? You seem to me to have lost your head.'
Mr. Spalding retired.
'The Abbey! that is droll,' said Cadurcis. 'I owe some duties to the
poor Abbey. I should not like to quit England, and leave anybody in
trouble at the Abbey. I wish I had seen the lad. Some son of a tenant
who has written to me, and I have never opened his letters. I am
sorry.'
In a few minutes Mr. Spalding again entered the room. 'The young lad
has called again, my lord.
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