After a short time it became apparent that the African was trying to find out what was behind the heavy door.  There was no way of looking in, for the door fitted tight into the massive stone slabs.  The only opportunity for the entrance of light was through a small hole between the great stones above the door.  This hole was too high up to look through from the ground level.  Oolanga, having tried standing tiptoe on the highest point near, and holding the lantern as high as he could, threw the light round the edges of the door to see if he could find anywhere a hole or a flaw in the metal through which he could obtain a glimpse.  Foiled in this, he brought from the shrubbery a plank, which he leant against the top of the door and then climbed up with great dexterity.  This did not bring him near enough to the window-hole to look in, or even to throw the light of the lantern through it, so he climbed down and carried the plank back to the place from which he had got it.  Then he concealed himself near the iron door and waited, manifestly with the intent of remaining there till someone came near.  Presently Lady Arabella, moving noiselessly through the shade, approached the door.  When he saw her close enough to touch it, Oolanga stepped forward from his concealment, and spoke in a whisper, which through the gloom sounded like a hiss.

“I want to see you, missy—­soon and secret.”

“What do you want?”

“You know well, missy; I told you already.”

She turned on him with blazing eyes, the green tint in them glowing like emeralds.

“Come, none of that.  If there is anything sensible which you wish to say to me, you can see me here, just where we are, at seven o’clock.”

He made no reply in words, but, putting the backs of his hands together, bent lower and lower till his forehead touched the earth.  Then he rose and went slowly away.

Adam Salton, from his hiding-place, saw and wondered.  In a few minutes he moved from his place and went home to Lesser Hill, fully determined that seven o’clock would find him in some hidden place behind Diana’s Grove.

At a little before seven Adam stole softly out of the house and took the back-way to the rear of Diana’s Grove.  The place seemed silent and deserted, so he took the opportunity of concealing himself near the spot whence he had seen Oolanga trying to investigate whatever was concealed behind the iron door.  He waited, perfectly still, and at last saw a gleam of white passing soundlessly through the undergrowth.  He was not surprised when he recognised the colour of Lady Arabella’s dress.  She came close and waited, with her face to the iron door.  From some place of concealment near at hand Oolanga appeared, and came close to her.  Adam noticed, with surprised amusement, that over his shoulder was the box with the mongoose.  Of course the African did not know that he was seen by anyone, least of all by the man whose property he had with him.