Parson Chichester felt pretty much of a fool, and the more annoyed because unable to detect anything offensive in the tone of the rebuke-- if, indeed, a rebuke had been implied.
"Folk in these parts see few strange faces," he said lamely.
"It was the kinder of you to offer me a lift. I had heard, by the way, that Sir Miles"s butler did not come from these parts, but was a much-travelled man."
"That is so."
Mr. Chichester felt that he was getting very markedly the worst of this conversation, and decided to let it drop. But just as he had arrived at this decision the stranger faced around and asked--
"Perhaps _you_ know Sir Miles"s present address?"
At this point-blank question Mr. Chichester"s face grew very red indeed.
He had brought it on himself. Denial was useless.
"Perhaps I do," he answered. "But you were going to ask Miss Sally for it, and we will leave it to her."
"Quite right," the stranger a.s.sented. "Here is my own card, though it will convey nothing to you."
But it conveyed a great deal. Parson Chichester reached across with his disengaged right hand, took the card and read--
The Reverend Purdie J. Gla.s.son, LL.D., Holy Innocents" Orphanage, Bursfield.
The words danced before his eyes. Imagine some unskilled player pitted against an expert at cards, awake at one moment to his weakness, and the next overwhelmingly aware that his opponent, by an incredible blunder, is delivered into his hands. The elation of it fairly frightened Mr.
Chichester, and he so far forgot himself as to take up his whip and administer a sharp flick on Archdeacon"s shoulder--an outrage which the good horse, after an instant of amazement, resented by a creditable attempt to bolt. This was probably the best that could have happened.
It gave the Parson a job he understood, and for five minutes effectually prevented his speaking.
They had almost reached the entrance gate of Culvercoombe before he reduced the affronted horse to a trot, and Doctor Gla.s.son, who had been clutching the rail of the dog-cart in acutest physical terror, had no nerve as yet to resume the conversation. A lodge-keeper ran out and opened the gate (service under Miss Sally was always alert), and they rolled smoothly down the well-gravelled drive through an avenue of yellowing sycamores.
A couple of aged mastiff b.i.t.c.hes--mothers in their time, and now great-grandmothers, of a n.o.ble race--lay sunning themselves before the house-porch. They recognised the parson"s dog-cart and heaved themselves up, wagging their tails to welcome a respected, if rare, visitor; but growled at sight of his companion. Their names were Tryphena and Tryphosa.
Parson Chichester alighted and rang the bell, after handing the reins to Doctor Gla.s.son with an apology.
"I"ll get the groom sent round in a moment," he explained, and to the butler who opened the door, "Miss Sally is expecting me, eh, b.u.t.ts?"
"In the yellow drawing-room, y"r worship."
The Parson was a magistrate, and, for no known reason, b.u.t.ts always addressed him as such.
"Very well, I"ll find my way to her. Send someone around to take the dog-cart, and as soon as he comes, take this gentleman inside until your mistress rings. Understand?"
"I understand, y"r worship."
"Then be as brisk as you can, for the horse is fresh to-day."
"He "as aperiently been workin" hisself into a lather, y"r worship,"
said b.u.t.ts. "Which I "ave noticed, sir, your "abit--or, as I may say, your custom--of bringin" "im in cool."
But Parson Chichester had left him, and was making his way across the hall to the yellow drawing-room, which he entered with little ceremony.
Miss Sally rose to receive him. She had been sitting in its oriel window with a small table before her, and on the table a Bible. This was her rule on a Sunday afternoon, and every Sunday after luncheon she donned a pair of spectacles. b.u.t.ts, who knew her habits to a hair, brought the spectacles once a week and laid the book open at his favourite pa.s.sages. For aught it mattered, he might have opened it upside-down.
"You"re pretty punctual," said Miss Sally. "Before your time, if anything."
"Yes; the horse bolted, or tried to," Mr. Chichester explained.
"Guess whom I"ve brought with me."
"Not Miles Chandon?"
"No; he"s at Monte Carlo. His address, the Grand Hotel. Guess again."
"Don"t be foolish and waste time. The children may be arriving at any minute."
"You must keep "em out of the way, then."
"Why?"
"Because I"ve brought him."
""Him"? You"ll excuse me--"
"Gla.s.son."
"Gla.s.son?" Her eyes opened wide. "You"ve brought Gla.s.son? Well, I must say you"re clever."
"On the contrary, I"ve been infernally stupid. I met him coming down the drive from Meriton. He had been pumping Matters for Sir Miles"s present address--which he didn"t get. What"s his game, do you think?"
"Blackmail."
"That crossed my mind too. He seems a deep one, and I don"t like his looks."
"You are sure it is Gla.s.son?"
Parson Chichester produced the card, badly crumpled, from his riding-glove. Miss Sally pushed her Sunday spectacles higher on her brows and examined it with her clear eyes.
"This," she said "is going to be a treat. The man cannot possibly have guessed that the children are in this neighbourhood. You haven"t enlightened him, I hope?"
"Certainly not," Mr. Chichester answered indignantly.
"Well, you said a moment since that you"d been infernally stupid, and I don"t yet know what form it took."
"I let him know what I"d discovered--that he had been pumping Matters for Sir Miles"s address."
"There is no harm in that. He can have the address from me as soon as he likes."
"But surely you see through his game? He has tracked out the boy"s parentage, and he"s out after blackmail."
"To be sure he is; and, what"s more, he"s going to have a run for his money. What on earth is the matter outside?"
For a noise of furious barking had broken out suddenly, and, as she spoke, there mingled with it a sound very like a human scream.