"I've arranged all," said that worthy. "I've seen the proprietor of the
hotel down at Bring, and he's going to have a smart dog-cart and a
smarter horse to do the dozen miles between here and Charing Cross ready
for us at nine. He says we shall be rattled into town within the hour.
So if we aren't in time to spot Raffles we are down on our luck with a
vengeance. Your room is on the ground floor, isn't it?"
"Yes," said Jack, "overlooking Corker's flowerbeds."
"Well, pull up the window after supper as quietly as you can, and slip
into the garden. Then scoot through the field, and you'll find me
waiting for you in the hotel stables. You can pass the word to your
chums in Corker's that you aren't going to be on show after supper, and
then they won't be routing you out."
"My chums are mostly in Biffen's," said Jack. "Grim and Rogers, etc."
"Good omen," said Acton. "Leave your window so that you can easily shove
it up when you come back, and leave your school cap behind, and bring a
tweed instead. Got such an article?"
"Yes."
"How's your room lighted?"
"Oh, we have the electric. It is switched off at ten, so that the light
will not give any trouble, Acton."
"Well, bolt your door, too. It seems as though the fates were fighting
for us, eh, young 'un?"
CHAPTER XXI
LONDON AND BACK
At nine that night the two, as agreed upon, met at Dring in the hotel
stables. There had been no mishaps.
The groom was busy putting the horse into the trap, and, when Jack saw
what a really smart turn-out Acton had engaged, his fears began to
occupy less of his thoughts and the pleasures of a rattling hour's spin
a jolly lot more.
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