"I told her to leave the express at Salisbury, go on to Woking by a slow train, take a taxi from there to my old nurse's, Mrs.Simpson's, in Camden Town, and leave Marion with her." "Excellent," said the Honourable John Ruffin in warm approval.
"Then she's to come on here with Marion's clothes in time to catch the six o'clock to Exeter from Paddington." "Here?
With Marion's clothes?
What for ?" said the Honourable John Ruffin.
"Why, to put on Mary Bride--Pollyooly as you call her.

I want to borrow her again, substitute her for Marion, and let her keep the brutes quiet while I carry Marion off to a cottage I have bought in the north of Scotland for just such an emergency as this." The Honourable John Ruffin sprang to his feet with flashing eyes: "What?
Rob me of my bacon-griller again?
The last time my breakfast was spoilt for a fortnight.

You don't know what you ask!" he cried in tones in which indignation and horror were nicely blended.
"Oh, but this won't be for a fortnight--a couple of days at the outside.

Surely you could eat fish for breakfast for a couple of mornings," pleaded the duchess.
"I never eat fish for breakfast," said the Honourable John Ruffin coldly.

"I am an Englishman and a patriot--eggs and bacon." "But just for once," said the duchess.
The hard expression faded slowly from his face; he took a turn up and down the room; then he said in a tone of infinite sadness: "Well, well, I suppose I must sacrifice myself again.