Ici was twenty miles to the north-west of London.

How long would it take Matey to reach Donvres?
Or at which of the combien did he intend to waylay and away with Aminta?
The boys went about pounding at the interrogative French phrase in due sincerity, behind the burlesque of traveller bothering coachman.

Matey's designs could be finessed only by a knowledge of his character: that he was not the fellow to give up the girl he had taken to; and impediments might multiply, but he would bear them down.

Three days before the break-up of the school another rumour came tearing through it: Aminta's aunt had withdrawn her from Miss Vincent's.

And now rose the question, two-dozen-mouthed, Did Matey know her address at Douvres?
His face grew stringy and his voice harder, and his eyes ready to burst from a smother of fire.