“I’m right as rain, love, but I’d be glad of your company.”
“I warn you, you shall have too much of it from now on!”
The door of the inn was locked, but a light burned inside, and in a moment the landlord himself opened to them, all eager to hear a bit of gossip he could pass on to his custom.
“So happens as there’s a gentleman up in Number Three wishes to speak with you in the morning,” he told Gregory.
“Very nice gentleman come on the night train, only got in here an hour past, off the wagon.”
Gregory made a wry face.
“My father, no doubt.”
“Oh, no, sir. His name is a Mr. Wills or Wells or Wallshis signature was a mite difficult to make out.”
“Wells! Mr. Wells! So he’s come!” He caught Nancy’s hands, shaking them in his excitement. “Nancy, one of the greatest men in England is here! There’s no one more profitable for such a tale as ours! I’m going up to speak with him right away.”
Kissing her lightly on the cheek, he hurried up the stairs and knocked on the door of Number Three.