Doncastle's front. Presently a man
came out in a great-coat and with a small bag in his hand; Neigh at once
recognizing the person as Chickerel, went up to him.

'Mr. Doncastle tells me you are going on a sudden journey. At what time
does your train leave?' Neigh asked.

'I go by the ten o'clock, sir: I hope it is a third-class,' said
Chickerel; 'though I am afraid it may not be.'

'It is as much as you will do to get to the station,' said Neigh, turning
the face of his watch to the light. 'Here, come into my cab--I am
driving that way.'

'Thank you, sir,' said Chickerel.

Neigh called a cab at the first opportunity, and they entered and drove
along together. Neither spoke during the journey. When they were
driving up to the station entrance Neigh looked again to see the hour.

'You have not a minute to lose,' he said, in repressed anxiety. 'And
your journey will be expensive: instead of walking from Anglebury to
Knollsea, you had better drive--above all, don't lose time. Never mind
what class the train is. Take this from me, since the emergency is
great.' He handed something to Chickerel folded up small.

The butler took it without inquiry, and stepped out hastily.

'I sincerely hope she-- Well, good-night, Chickerel,' continued Neigh,
ending his words abruptly. The cab containing him drove again towards
the station-gates, leaving Chickerel standing on the kerb.

He passed through the booking-office, and looked at the paper Neigh had
put into his hand. It was a five-pound note.

Chickerel mused on the circumstance as he took his ticket and got into
the train.

43. THE RAILWAY--THE SEA--THE SHORE BEYOND

By this time Sol and the Honourable Edgar Mountclere had gone far on
their journey into Wessex. Enckworth Court, Mountclere's destination,
though several miles from Knollsea, was most easily accessible by the
same route as that to the village, the latter being the place for which
Sol was bound.

From the few words that passed between them on the way, Mountclere became
more stubborn than ever in a belief that this was a carefully laid trap
of the fair Ethelberta's to ensnare his brother without revealing to him
her family ties, which it therefore behoved him to make clear, with the
utmost force of representation, before the fatal union had been
contracted. Being himself the viscount's only remaining brother and near
relative, the disinterestedness of his motives may be left to
imagin