"Have you seen anything of Mr. Hadley?" she asked.
"No!"
"He went out just after lunch to get some tobacco and hasn't come back yet."
"That's strange. He's not usually out so long as that, is he?"
"He's never been away more than about an hour at a time before."
"Didn't he say anything, Nanny?"
"Only that he wanted some more tobacco."
I went into the dining-room, intending to glance through the evening post before proceeding further, and, as I picked up the first letter, my eye suddenly fell on the old man's pouch lying on the mantelpiece. I stepped over to it and pinched it.
"This is very peculiar!" I said. "Here is his pouch—simply bursting with 'baccy.'"
"Well, I never!" exclaimed Nanny.