The bar must be near because
she could hear voices and the clinking of glasses, but, in spite of
those sounds the house seemed very dead. Through the walls and rooms
she could hear the pounding beat of the sea. She walked to the end
of the passage and there found an old wrinkled man in riding
breeches and a brightly-coloured check shirt.
"Can you tell me where a gentleman, Mr. Cardinal, is staying?" she
asked.
He was obviously very deaf; she had to shout. She repeated her
question, adding. "He came from London to-day."
A stout middle-aged woman appeared. "What is it?" she asked. "The
old man's stone deaf. He can't hear at all."
"I was wondering," said Maggie, "whether you could tell me where I
could find a Mr. Cardinal. He came down from London to-day and is
staying here."
"Cardinal . . . Cardinal?" The woman thought, scratching her head.
"Was it Caldwell you meant?"
"No," said Maggie. "Cardinal."
"I'll go and see." The woman disappeared, whilst the old man brushed
past Maggie as though she were a piece of furniture; he departed on
some secret purpose of his own.
"What a horrible place!" thought Maggie.
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