He was
surprised and troubled; he knew how Lionel would fret. The hall-porter
did not know whither Lord Rockminster had gone; that is to say, he
almost certainly did know, but it was not his business to tell. Luckily,
at this same moment, there was a young fellow leaving the club, and, as
he was lighting his cigar, he heard Maurice's inquiries--and perhaps was
rather struck by his appearance, which was certainly not that of a
sheriff's officer.
"I think I can tell you where they have gone, sir," said the young man,
good-naturedly. "Some of them had an early dinner to-night, to go up to
the billiard handicap at the Palm-Tree; I fancy Lord Rockminster was of
the party, and that you will find him there."
This information proved correct. Mangan went up to the Palm-Tree Club in
St. James Street and sent in his card. Almost directly he was invited to
step up-stairs to the billiard-room. Just as he entered the door, he saw
Lord Rockminster leave the raised bench where he had been seated by the
side of a very artificial-looking palm-tree stem, and the next moment
the two men were face to face.
"How do you do, Mr. Mangan?" Lord Rockminster said, in his usual
impassive way.
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