Like a thirsty man on a Sunday who has not been able to travel the number of miles which make drinking legal, he climbed over a back wall into the yard. He glanced nervously at the windows, hoping that Miss Blow’s room looked out on the front and that she would be expecting him to reach the hotel along the road. He caught sight of Bridgy staring out of the scullery window. She had watched him climb the wall and was most anxious to discover what he intended to do next. It seemed to her unnatural that an officer of police should enter an hotel in such a way. Mr. Goddard, taking shelter in the stable, beckoned to her through the door. Filled with curiosity, she crossed the yard and joined him in the stable. “Bridgy,” he said, “here’s a shilling for you. Is Mr. O’Loughlin inside?” “He is, sir,” said Bridgy. “Then tell him to come out here. I want to speak to him.” “Is it out to the stable?” Mr. Goddard had sacrificed his own self-respect when he yielded to temptation and made up his mind to escape. He now flung away all hope of ever being respected by Bridgy. “Yes; here in the stable. And if you meet Miss Blow, don’t tell her where I am.” “I will not. Why would I? But sure----” “Go on now, like a good girl, and don’t waste your time talking to me.” Jimmy O’Loughlin was a man of tact and good manners. He greeted Mr. Goddard cheerfully as if then were nothing surprising in the choice of a stable for the scene of an important interview. He had been warned by Bridgy that Mr. Goddard, for some reason, stood in terror of Miss Blow; but he made no allusion to her. He opened the conversation with a remark on a safe, indifferent topic. “Them was queer people,” he said, alluding to the Members of Parliament and their party. “I want my horse and trap,” said Mr. Goddard, “and I want to pay my bill. I am going back to Ballymoy at once.” “I wouldn’t say but you’re right,” said Jimmy, “if them ones is likely to be back here in the course of the day.” “It’s not that. I don’t mind about them. It’s business that’s taking me home--important business.” This was too much for Jimmy O’Loughlin. His tact and manners were good, but he was not going to allow Mr. Goddard to escape without an allusion to Miss Blow. “The doctor’s young lady is within, waiting for you,” he said. “I know that; but I haven’t time to talk to her now. In fact, it is most important that I should get away without her seeing me--on account of my business.” “I wouldn’t say but you might be right there too,” said Jimmy. They set to work together and harnessed Mr. Goddard’s horse. They led him into the yard and put him between the shafts of the trap as silently as possible. “I’m thinking,” said Jimmy, “that maybe it would be better for you not to be paying me the trifle that’s due for your bed and your dinner until the next time you’re over.” “Very well. Then I’ll be able to start at once.”