The appeal produced its effect on Miss Blow. She had the blood of a business man in her veins. She understood that her father would have resented any interference with the sale of his twopenny Beauties, and would not have admitted either grief or anger as legitimate reasons for damming the flow of trade. Also she and her companions belonged to a law-abiding race. They had a natural respect for any department of the State. They felt it wrong to stop the sale of postage stamps. They trooped into the hotel and sat down in the commercial room. Once there Miss Farquharson’s strong common sense asserted itself. She suggested that it might be wise after all to order bacon and eggs, quoting the advice given by St. Paul to the sailors who were threatened with shipwreck. Mrs. Dick and Mrs. Sanders declared with tears that it was impossible for them to eat in their heart-broken condition. This confirmed Miss Farquharson in her resolve to have a regular meal. She gave the necessary order to Jimmy O’Loughlin. Miss Blow agreed to eat on condition that the meal was served in the commercial room, the windows of which looked out on the street. She knew that Sergeant Farrelly, Constable Cole, and the prisoner must pass the hotel on their way to the barrack. CHAPTER XXII At eight o’clock Mr. Goddard, who had enjoyed some fried bacon and a bottle of porter in the telegraph office, began to feel surprise at the prolonged absence of Sergeant Farrelly. It was all very well to go slowly to Rosivera and to return without undue hurry, but it was hard to imagine how eight hours could possibly be occupied in travelling sixteen miles. He sent Susy Lizzie, who remained in attendance on him, to call her uncle. “I’m doing the best I can,” said Jimmy, “to keep them quiet; but they’ll be out after you in spite of me soon. I left herself and Bridgy talking to them; but what use are they against the four? And the doctor’s young lady is the worst of them.” “It’s not the ladies I’m bothered about now,” said Mr. Goddard. “Why the devil isn’t Sergeant Farrelly back? What’s keeping him?” “Faith, I don’t know, unless maybe he’d be in dread!” “Nonsense. I told him not to hurry, but I didn’t tell him to stay out all night.” “It’s queer, so it is,” said Jimmy. “What would you think now of sending Constable Moriarty out a bit along the road to look and see if there’s e’er a sign of them coming?” “I’ll go myself,” said Mr. Goddard. “I wouldn’t say,” said Jimmy, “but what it might be just as well if you did. The ladies is sure to be here in a couple of minutes now. I can’t keep them.”