many kinds of curiosity, I know--but there is no
misinterpreting the curiosity of blank surprise: if I ever saw it in my
life I saw it in the Count's face.

While the questions and answers were going on, we had all been
strolling quietly back through the plantation. As soon as we reached
the house the first object that we saw in front of it was Sir
Percival's dog-cart, with the horse put to and the groom waiting by it
in his stable-jacket. If these unexpected appearances were to be
trusted, the examination of the house-keeper had produced important
results already.

"A fine horse, my friend," said the Count, addressing the groom with
the most engaging familiarity of manner, "You are going to drive out?"

"I am not going, sir," replied the man, looking at his stable-jacket,
and evidently wondering whether the foreign gentleman took it for his
livery. "My master drives himself."

"Aha!" said the Count, "does he indeed? I wonder he gives himself the
trouble when he has got you to drive for him. Is he going to fatigue
that nice, shining, pretty horse by taking him very far to-day?"

"I don't know, sir," answered the man. "The horse is a mare, if you
please, sir. She's the highest-couraged thing we've got in the
stables. Her name's Brown Molly, sir, and she'll go till she drops.
Sir Percival usually takes Isaac of York for the short distances."

"And your shining courageous Brown Molly for the long?"

"Logical inference, Miss Halcombe," continued the Count, wheeling round
briskly, and addressing me. "Sir Percival is going a long distance
to-day."

I made no reply. I had my own inferences to draw, from what I knew
through the housekeeper and from what I saw before me, and I did not
choose to share them with Count Fosco.

When Sir Percival was in Cumberland (I thought to myself), he walked
away a long distance, on Anne's account, to question the family at
Todd's Corner. Now he is in Hampshire, is he going to drive away a
long distance, on Anne's account again, to question Mrs. Catherick at
Welmingham?

We all entered the house. As we crossed the hall Sir Percival came out
from the library to meet us. He looked hurried and pale and
anxious--but for all that, he was in his most polite mood when he spoke
to us.

"I am sorry to say I am obliged to leave you," he began--"a long
drive--a matter that I can't very well put off. I shall be back in
good time to-morrow--but before I go I should like that littl