‘Gretna Green?’’ she repeated. The colour rushed up into her face; she thrust him away, exclaiming: ‘How dare you say such a thing? Never would Lucy behave with such impropriety!’

‘Then have the goodness to tell me where else she has gone—with a wedding as her acknowledged goal!’

‘I don’t know!’ she cried, unconsciously wringing her hands. ‘Unless—Oh, could they have hoaxed some cleric into believing Lucy to be of age?’

‘They can hardly have needed a post-chaise-and-four for that fetch! Oh yes, I’ve ascertained that much already—and also that the chaise has been hired for an unspecified time, and the post-boys for the first two stages. To Welwyn, in fact, and Welwyn, I would remind you, is on the Great North Road!’

‘Oh no!’ she protested. ‘I don’t believe it!’

‘Well, that’s of no consequence!’ he said unkindly. ‘I have discharged my duty, at all events, and must now be off. I shall overtake them long before they reach the Border, and will engage myself to restore your niece to you with as little scandal as may be possible, so don’t fall into despair!’

‘Wait!’ she uttered. ‘If this is true—What was it she wrote?—repugnant to her as it must be to me—agonizing struggle—shock the world—Good God, she must be out of her senses! Iver, she left the house before ten o’clock! Can you overtake them?’

‘Do you care to hazard a bet on the chance that I shan’t have done so before nightfall? I shouldn’t, if I were you!’

‘Then grant me ten minutes, and I’ll be ready to go with you!’ she said, hurrying to the door.

‘Don’t be so absurd! I’m not taking you with me on this chase, or anyone! Not even my groom!’

‘I should hope you were not taking your groom! But me you are taking, make up your mind to that, Iver! Who is to protect Lucy’s reputation if I don’t! You cannot!—in fact, you would be very much more likely to blast it!’