"
"You want a drink," said Kieff.
Kelly sniffed and began a clumsy search for refreshment.
Kieff came forward kindly and helped him. It was he who measured
the drinks finally when they were produced, and even Kelly, who
could stand a good deal, opened his eyes somewhat at the draught he
prepared for himself.
"Dry weather!" remarked Kieff, as he tossed it down. "You're not
going back to Merston's to-night, are you?"
"Must," said Kelly laconically.
"Why not wait till the morning?" suggested Kieff. "I shall be
passing that way myself then. We could go together."
There was a gleam in his black eyes that made Kelly look at him
hard. "And what would you want to be there for?" he demanded
aggressively. "Isn't one bearer of evil tidings enough?"
Kieff smiled. "I wonder if the lady left any message behind," he
suggested. "Possibly she has written a note to explain her own
absence. How long did the good Burke propose to be away?"
"Two or three nights in the first place. But he is coming back
to-morrow." A sudden idea flashed upon Kelly. "Ah, p'raps she's
hoping to be back before he is! Maybe there's more to this than we
understand! I'll not go over. I'll wait and see. She may be back
in the morning, she and young Guy too. They're old friends.
P'raps there's nothing in it but just a jaunt.
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