for although I had thus
far managed to hold myself so aloof from Mr. Blake, even while keeping
him under my eye, that no suspicion of my interest in his movements had
as yet been awakened, how could I thus for the third time follow his
order with one precisely similar, without attracting an attention that
would be fatal to my plans. Yet to let him ride off alone now, would be
to drop the trail at the very moment the scent became of importance.

The landlord, a bustling, wiry little man all nervousness and questions,
unwittingly helped me at this crisis.

"Are you going on to Perry, sir?" inquired he of that gentleman, "I have
been expecting a man along these three days bound for Perry."

"I am that man," I broke in, stepping forward with some appearance of
asperity, "and I hope you won't keep me waiting. A horse as soon as
dinner is over, do you hear? I am two days late now, and won't stand any
nonsense."

And to escape the questions sure to follow, I strode into the
dining-room with a half-fierce, half-sullen countenance, that
effectually precluded all advances. During the meal I saw Mr. Blake's
eye roam more than once towards my face; but I did not return his gaze,
or notice him in any way; hurrying through my dinner, and mounting the
first horse brought around, as if time were my only consideration. But
once on the road I took the first opportunity to draw rein and wait,
suddenly remembering that I had not heard Mr. Blake give any intimation
of the direction he intended taking. A few minutes revealed to me his
elegant form well mounted and showing to perfection in his closely
buttoned coat, slowly approaching up the road. Taking advantage of
a rise in the ground, I lingered till he was almost upon me, when I
cantered quickly on, fearing to arouse his apprehensions if I allowed
him to pass me on a road so solitary as that which now stretched out
before us: a move provocative of much embarassment to me, as I dared not
turn my head for the same reason, anxious as I was to keep him in sight.

The roads dividing before me, at length gave me my first opportunity
to pause and look back. He was some fifty paces behind. Waiting till he
came up, I bowed with the surly courtesy I thought in keeping with the
character I had assumed, and asked if he knew which road led towards
Perry, saying I had come off in such haste I had forgotten to inquire my
way. He returned my bow, pointed towards the left hand road and saying,
"I kn