o
be enough. I've got enough to send a telegram to Dorward. As soon as I
get his answer I'll send you word by Hacking. Now don't hang about in
the garden all the afternoon or your people will begin to think
something's up. If you could, it would be a good thing for you to be
heard praying and groaning in your room."
Cyril smiled his feeble smile, and Mark felt inclined to abandon him to
his fate; but he decided on reflection that the importance of
vindicating the claims of the Church to a persecuted son was more
important than the foolishness and the feebleness of the son.
"Do you want me to do anything more?" Hacking asked.
Mark suggested that Hacking's name and address should be given for Mr.
Dorward's answer, but this Hacking refused.
"If a telegram came to our house, everybody would want to read it. Why
can't it be sent to you?"
Mark sighed for his fellow-conspirator's stupidity. To this useless clod
he had presented a valuable bat.
"All right," he said impatiently, "you needn't do anything more except
tell Pomeroy what time he's to be at the corner of the road to-morrow."
"I'll do that, Lidderdale."
"I should think you jolly well would," Mark exclaimed scornfully.
Mark spent a long time over the telegram to Dorward; in the end he
decided that it would be safer to assume that the priest would shelter
and hide Cyril rather than take the risk of getting an answer. The final
draft was as follows:--
Dorward Green Lanes Medworth Hants
Am sending persecuted Catholic boy by 7.30 from Waterloo Tuesday
please send conveyance Mark Lidderdale.
Mark only had eightpence, and this message would cost tenpence. He took
out the _am_, changed _by 7.30 from Waterloo_ to _arriving 9.35_ and
_send conveyance_ to _meet_. If he had only borrowed Cyril's sovereign,
he could have been more explicit. However, he flattered himself that he
was getting full value for his eightpence. He then worked out the cost
of Cyril's escape.
s. d.
Third Class single to Paddington 1 6
Third Class return to Paddington (for self) 2 6
Third Class single Waterloo to Galton 3 11
Cab from Paddington to Waterloo 3 6?
Cab from Waterloo to Paddington (for self) 3 6?
Sandwiches for Cyril and Self 1 0
Ginger-beer for Cyril and Self (4 bottles) 8
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