Never before on a Sunday afternoon had Miss Drewitt
known the streets of Binchester to be so full of people.
She hurried on with bent head, looking straight before
her, trying to imagine what she looked like.
There was no sign of the captain, but as they turned
into Dialstone Lane they both saw a huge, shaggy,
grey head protruding from the small window of his
bedroom. It disappeared with a suddenness almost
startling.
“Thank you,” said Miss Drewitt, holding
out her hand as she reached the door. “Good-bye.”
Mr. Tredgold said “Good-bye,” and with
a furtive glance at the window above departed.
Miss Drewitt, opening the door, looked round an empty
room. Then the kitchen door opened and the face
of Mr. Tasker, full of concern, appeared.
“Did you get wet, miss?” he inquired.
Miss Drewitt ignored the question. “Where
is Captain Bowers?” she asked, in a clear, penetrating
voice.
The face of Mr. Tasker fell. “He’s
gone to bed with a headache, miss,” he replied.
“Headache?” repeated the astonished Miss
Drewitt. “When did he go?”
“About ’arf an hour ago,” said Mr.
Tasker; “just after the storm. I suppose
that’s what caused it, though it seems funny,
considering what a lot he must ha’ seen at sea.
He said he’d go straight to bed and try and
sleep it off. And I was to ask you to please
not to make a noise.”
Miss Drewitt swept past him and mounted the stairs.
At the captain’s door she paused, but the loud
snoring of a determined man made her resolve to postpone
her demands for an explanation to a more fitting opportunity.
Tired, wet, and angry she gained her own room, and
threw herself thoughtlessly into that famous old Chippendale
chair which, in accordance with Mr. Tredgold’s
instructions, had been placed against the wall.
The captain started in his sleep.
[Illustration: “She threw herself thoughtlessly
into that famous old Chippendale chair.”]
Mr. Chalk’s anxiety during the negotiations
for the purchase of the Fair Emily kept him
oscillating between Tredgold and Stobell until those
gentlemen fled at his approach and instructed their
retainers to make untruthful statements as to their
whereabouts. Daily letters from Captain Brisket
stated that he was still haggling with Mr. Todd over
the price, and Mr. Chalk quailed as he tried to picture
the scene with that doughty champion.
[Illustration: “Instructed their retainers
to make untruthful statements as to their whereabouts.”]
Three times at the earnest instigation of his friends,
who pointed out the necessity of keeping up appearances,
had he set out to pay a visit to Dialstone Lane, and
three times had he turned back half-way as he realized
the difficult nature of his task. As well ask
a poacher to call on a gamekeeper the morning after
a raid.
