The butler hesitated.

He did not care to betray Pike, neither did he care to leave Pike alone.
"Hedges!" came the call again, louder and quicker.
"Yes, sir--my lord ?" and Hedges squeezed out at the door without opening it much--which was rather a difficulty, for he was a portly man, with a red, honest sort of face--leaving Pike and the light inside.

Lord Hartledon--as we must unfortunately call him now--was standing in the hall.
"Has Dr.Ashton gone ?" "Yes, my lord." "Did he leave that address ?" Hedges knew to what his master alluded: an address that was wanted in connection with certain official proceedings that must now take place.
Hedges replied that Dr.Ashton had not left it with him.
"Then he must have forgotten it.

He said he would write it down in pencil.

Send over to the Rectory the first thing in the morning.