Stop gabbling.

Call the palace." He made the call.
"Now, then, call Clarence." "Clarence _who_ ?" "Never mind Clarence who.

Say you want Clarence; you'll get an answer." He did so.

We waited five nerve-straining minutes--ten minutes -- how long it did seem!--and then came a click that was as familiar to me as a human voice; for Clarence had been my own pupil.
"Now, my lad, vacate! They would have known _my_ touch, maybe, and so your call was surest; but I'm all right now." He vacated the place and cocked his ear to listen--but it didn't win.

I used a cipher.