He laughed.
“Ah, well, perhaps you’re right!” he said. “I couldn’t keep anything back from Milly.”
I echoed his laugh, but held my peace. It was not Milly alone from whom I wished my present idea to be kept a secret. In fact, I had not thought of Milly at all. I was only anxious that de Cartienne should remain altogether in the dark as to my clue; and for a remarkably good reason.
CHAPTER XXXV.
AN INVITATION.
We drove straight into the courtyard, having no groom with us and entered the house from the back. As we passed the little room on the ground floor given up for our sole use as a repository for cricket-nets, fishing-tackle, guns, spare harness, and such like appliances, I opened the door, intending to hang my whip up. To my surprise de Cartienne was there in an old coat, with his sleeves turned up, cleaning a gun. He looked up and greeted us as we entered.
“What a time you men have been! What have you been up to in Little Drayton?”
“Oh, we had lunch with your friend Fothergill and shacked about,” Cecil answered. “Tell you what, Len, he’s a very decent fellow.”
de Cartienne was examining the lock of his gun with great attention, and in the dusk I could not catch his expression.
“Oh, Fothergill’s all right!” he answered. “You didn’t find him very hungry for his winnings, did you?”
“I should think not,” Cecil replied enthusiastically. “Why, I believe he was actually annoyed with himself for having won at all. I’ve given him my I O U’s.”