“That twist of the birds,” Dominey explained, “is simply a local superstition. The wood ends on the slant, and they seem to be flying more to the left than they really are.”
Seaman gazed steadfastly for a moment along the side of the wood.
“Her Grace is coming,” he said. “She seems to share the Duke's dislike of me, and she is too great a lady to conceal her feelings. Just one word before I go. The Princess Eiderstrom arrives this afternoon.”
Dominey frowned, then, warned by the keeper's shout, turned around and killed a hare.
“My friend,” he said, with a certain note of challenge in his tone, “I am not certain that you have told me all that you know concerning the Princess's visit.”
Seaman was thoughtful for a brief space of time.
“You are right,” he admitted, “I have not. It is a fault which I will repair presently.”
He strolled away to the next stand, where Mr. Mangan was displaying an altogether different standard of proficiency. The Duchess came up to Dominey a few minutes later.
“I told Henry I shouldn't stop with him another moment,” she declared. “He has fired off about forty cartridges and wounded one hare.”
“Henry is not keen,” Dominey remarked, “although I think you are a little hard on him, are you not? I saw him bring down a nice cock just now. So far as regards the birds, it really does not matter. They are all going home.”