village inn, and to come back again before dinner. If I waited till
the evening I might find no second opportunity of safely leaving the
house.

"Keep the key turned in the lock. Laura," I said, "and don't be afraid
about me. If you hear any inquiries made, call through the door, and
say that I am gone out for a walk."

"When shall you be back?"

"Before dinner, without fail. Courage, my love. By this time to-morrow
you will have a clear-headed, trustworthy man acting for your
good. Mr. Gilmore's partner is our next best friend to Mr. Gilmore
himself."

A moment's reflection, as soon as I was alone, convinced me that I had
better not appear in my walking-dress until I had first discovered what
was going on in the lower part of the house. I had not ascertained yet
whether Sir Percival was indoors or out.

The singing of the canaries in the library, and the smell of
tobacco-smoke that came through the door, which was not closed, told me
at once where the Count was. I looked over my shoulder as I passed the
doorway, and saw to my surprise that he was exhibiting the docility of
the birds in his most engagingly polite manner to the housekeeper. He
must have specially invited her to see them--for she would never have
thought of going into the library of her own accord. The man's
slightest actions had a purpose of some kind at the bottom of every one
of them. What could be his purpose here?

It was no time then to inquire into his motives. I looked about for
Madame Fosco next, and found her following her favourite circle round
and round the fish-pond.

I was a little doubtful how she would meet me, after the outbreak of
jealousy of which I had been the cause so short a time since. But her
husband had tamed her in the interval, and she now spoke to me with the
same civility as usual. My only object in addressing myself to her was
to ascertain if she knew what had become of Sir Percival. I contrived
to refer to him indirectly, and after a little fencing on either side
she at last mentioned that he had gone out.

"Which of the horses has he taken?" I asked carelessly.

"None of them," she replied. "He went away two hours since on foot.
As I understood it, his object was to make fresh inquiries about the
woman named Anne Catherick. He appears to be unreasonably anxious
about tracing her. Do you happen to know if she is dangerously mad,
Miss Halcombe?"

"I do not, Countess."

"Are you going in?"