“I beg your pardon?” repeated Wolf; for behind that closed door he began to catch the murmured sound of voices. “I can’t hear what you say, Roger!”

The man raised his voice a little with a nervous sideways glance at the closed door.

“I took the liberty of asking you, Sir, whether you’d step into the kitchen before you leave us. Old Man Round’s down there with Miss Elizabeth. They caught some lad or other fishing out o’ season in Lenty Pond, and they’ve come to show Squire a monstrous large perch this lad hooked up. I dursn’t say nothing, because of he in there”⁠—and the man jerked his thumb towards the door⁠—“but maybe they’d like for you to see the fish. I only mention it, as Miss Martin and our maid be gone to Weymouth for the day⁠ ⁠… so if you’d walk straight in on us, Sir, afore you leave, ’twould be a kindness!”

“Certainly I will, Roger. I’ll be very glad to⁠ ⁠… as long as I don’t have to eat that fish!”