ecount determined to act with unrelenting caution to the
last. That night, when the doors were closed, she privately removed the
keys from the door in front and the door at the back. She then softly
opened her bedroom window and sat down by it, with her bonnet and cloak
on, to prevent her taking cold. Noel Vanstone's window was on the same
side of the house as her own. If any one came in the dark to speak to
him from the garden beneath, they would speak to his housekeeper as
well. Prepared at all points to intercept every form of clandestine
communication which stratagem could invent, Mrs. Lecount watched through
the quiet night. When morning came, she stole downstairs before the
servant was up, restored the keys to their places, and re-occupied her
position in the parlor until Noel Vanstone made his appearance at the
breakfast-table. Had he altered his mind? No. He declined posting to
the railway on account of the expense, but he was as firm as ever in his
resolution to go to St. Crux. He desired that an inside place might be
secured for him in the early coach. Suspicious to the last, Mrs. Lecount
sent the baker's man to take the place. He was a public servant, and Mr.
Bygrave would not suspect him of performing a private errand.

The coach called at Sea View. Mrs. Lecount saw her master established
in his place, and ascertained that the other three inside seats were
already occupied by strangers. She inquired of the coachman if the
outside places (all of which were not yet filled up) had their full
complement of passengers also. The man replied in the affirmative. He
had two gentlemen to call for in the town, and the others would take
their places at the inn. Mrs. Lecount forthwith turned her steps toward
the inn, and took up her position on the Parade opposite from a point
of view which would enable her to see the last of the coach on its
departure. In ten minutes more it rattled away, full outside and in; and
the housekeeper's own eyes assured her that neither Mr. Bygrave himself,
nor any one belonging to North Shingles, was among the passengers.

There was only one more precaution to take, and Mrs. Lecount did not
neglect it. Mr. Bygrave had doubtless seen the coach call at Sea
View. He might hire a carriage and follow it to the railway on pure
speculation. Mrs. Lecount remained within view of the inn (the only
place at which a carriage could be obtained) for nearly an hour longer,
waiting for events. Nothing happe