“They seem to say not. When last seen he was running like mad. The supposition is that he stumbled and fell, his head striking against a heap of stones near to where he was found.”
Peace began to be seriously concerned.
“What sort of a man was he?” he enquired.
“I don’t know, but there’s a carter outside who saw him.”
Peace rose at once, and proceeded to the front entrance of the house.
A man was giving his horses some hay and water in front of the hostelry.
“Here, Jem,” said Brickett, “tell the gentleman what kind of man it was who was found on the Saltwich-road in a dying condition.”
The carter scratched his head and remarked—
“What sort o’ man? Well, un seemed a tallish chap, looked like a tramp.”
“Pale or dark?”