He walked around the corner of the house, and _paff_ came a motor-car and made him jump. Another one followed like a streak of light. Bob went quite pale for a boy with a complexion like an ancient red brick, and made a bolt for the door. He was too late, for Bradstock and the bishop stood in his way. Bob slowed down, put his hands in his pockets and whistled. "I say," said Bob, "how did you find this place out?" "I own to being surprised and disappointed with you, Robert," said the bishop; "very much surprised and greatly disappointed." Bob wagged his head to and fro. "Why, what about?" he asked. "At your not returning, sir," said his lordship. "You treated me and Lord Bradstock, I regret to say, with great disrespect." "I’m very sorry," said Bob, "but I couldn’t help it. Pen—Oh, Lord! there’s granny!" The duchess intervened. "Robert, where is Penelope?" Bob hesitated. "Gone to—t-to London for Paris and Marseilles and Australia," said Bob, hurriedly. "She said she couldn’t wait, but had an appointment there somewhere. And she said I was to say she was sorry if any one called." "Robert," said the duchess, severely, "do not keep your eyes fixed upon the distant landscape. Look me in the face. Are you speaking the truth?" Bob wriggled and shuffled. "No, I’m not," he said. "It’s a beastly lie. But she did say the other day that she would go to the ends of the earth. And that’s Australia, ain’t it?" "Bob," said the bishop, "this is very painful to me. Speak the truth like a man." "I won’t," said Bob; "it isn’t my truth. I won’t give Pen away to any one." His vision cleared, and he saw the lovers ranked behind his grandmother and the bishop. "Oh, Mr. Gordon," he cried, "do come and help me! Would you tell if you were me?" "No," said Gordon, "no, of course not." "I always liked you," said Bob, "so I won’t." "I command you," said Titania, looking at Gordon furiously. "It’s no good," said Bob, rapidly; "Pen’s a great way off, far enough, that is, and I swore I’d never disclose the secret of her whereabouts to any one. At least, if I didn’t swear it, I said it, and, if I said it, my lord, and broke my promise, it wouldn’t be honourable, would it?" "I don’t care," began Titania. "Would it, my lord?" asked Bob. "I’m afraid not," said the bishop, "though perhaps in the circumstances, which are very peculiar—" "Well, I won’t," said Bob, "and that’s flat. Goby wouldn’t, I know, would you, Captain Goby?" But the duchess waved Goby into the background. "I mean to have the truth. Shall we listen to your foolish scruples now? If you won’t tell us where she is, tell us whom she has married. Is it one of these gentlemen?" "I won’t give any of ’em away," said Bob. "Then you know?" "Of course I know," said Bob. "Ah," sighed the duchess, "then she is married?" "She says so," said Bob, "and, if it’s true, as I suppose, I know who it is. But Pen, before she went up—before she went, said I wasn’t to speak."