e evening, and went their several ways, Lord Hartledon found
himself close to Gorton, his coat flapping as he walked. The man was
looking round for Pike: but Mr. Pike, the instant his forced evidence was
given, had slunk away from the gaze of his fellow-men to ensconce himself
in his solitary shed. To all appearance Lord Hartledon had overtaken
Gorton by accident: the man turned aside in obedience to a signal, and
halted. They could not see much of each other's faces in the twilight.

"I wish to ask you a question," said Percival in low, impressive, and not
unkindly tones. "Did you speak with my brother, Lord Hartledon, at all on
Tuesday?"

"No, my lord, I did not," was the ready answer. "I was trying to get to
see his lordship, but did not."

"What did you want with him? What brought you back to Calne?"

"I wanted to get from him a guarantee for--for what your lordship knows
of; which he had omitted to give, and I had not thought to ask for,"
civilly replied the man. "I was looking about for his lordship on the
Tuesday morning, but did not get to see him. In the afternoon, when the
boat-race was over, I made bold to call at Hartledon, but the servants
said his lordship wasn't in. As I came away, I saw him, as I thought,
pass the lodge and go up the road, and I cut after him, but couldn't
overtake him, and at last lost sight of him. I struck into a tangled sort
of pathway through the gorse, or whatever it's called down here, and it
brought me out near the river. His lordship was just sculling down, and
then I knew it was some one else had gone by the lodge, and not him.
Perhaps it was your lordship?"

"You knew it was Lord Hartledon in the boat? I mean, you recognized him?
You did not mistake him for me?"

"I knew him, my lord. If I'd been a bit nearer the lodge, I shouldn't
have been likely to mistake even your lordship for him."

Lord Hartledon was gazing into the man's face still; never once had his
eyes been removed from it.

"You did not see Lord Hartledon later?"

"I never saw him all day but that once when he passed in the skiff."

"You did not follow him, then?"

"Of what use?" debated the man. "I couldn't call out my business from the
banks, and didn't know his lordship was going to land lower down. I went
straight back to Calne, my lord, walking with that man Pike--who is a rum
fellow, and has a history behind him, unless I'm mistaken; but it's no
business of mine. I made my mind up to another nigh