"You are sure he went?"
"Yes. I saw him drive off. He wanted me to go along, but I couldn't very well. Do you wish to see him?"
"Yes."
"I understand you and he had some trouble yesterday."
"We did have some trouble yesterday. But I want to see him about something else now."
Steiner stared at Ralph. Then, thinking he had spent enough time on such a poor lad as the bridge tender, he turned away and walked off, whistling a merry concert-hall air.
Ralph stood still, undecided what to do next. If Percy had really gone to Silver Cove, somebody else must be guilty of breaking the cottage windows. But who? Ralph could not remember of having any other enemy.
While the boy was deliberating he saw three men coming toward him. They were the squire, the postmaster, and Uriah Dicks.
"Why ain't you at the bridge?" asked Uriah, sourly.
"We have had trouble at the cottage, sir," replied Ralph. "Some vandal has broken nearly all of our windows."