We can get along, I expect, with Malachi until he gets back.

Todd!" "Yes, sah." "You go to Guy's and ask Mr.Lampson if Mr.Poe is still in the hotel.
If he is not there ask for any letter addressed to me and then come back.

If he is in, go up to his room and present my compliments, and say we are waiting dinner for him." Todd's face lengthened, but he missed no word of his master's instructions.

Apart from these his mind was occupied with the number of minutes it would take him to run all the way to Guy's Hotel, mount the steps, deliver his message, and race back again.

Malachi, who was nearly twice his age, and who had had twice his experience, might be all right until he reached that old Burgundy, but "dere warn't nobody could handle dem corks but Todd; Malachi'd bust 'em sho' and spile 'em 'fo' he could git back." "'Spose dere ain't no gemman and no letter, den what ?" he asked as a last resort.
"Then come straight home." "Yes, sah," and he backed regretfully from the room and closed the door behind him.
St.George turned to Horn again: "Very good idea, Richard--wonder I hadn't thought of it before.