Kind nodded.
"I'll go to Tarhaven to-morrow. Then Elspeth is at Armour's, and can remain there for a time. As soon as we know what Señora Guzman intends to do, we can go to Colchester in this here caravan, and you'll be safe. Trent can hunt about as he likes. He'll never think of looking here for you."
"Ah," said Herries, glancing towards the bed, where Mrs. Kind was placidly sleeping, "that reminds me. Elspeth brought me a local Tarhaven newspaper," he produced it from his pocket. "See," he indicated an advertisement, "read that."
Kind did so. It was a paragraph offering a reward of fifty pounds for the discovery of Michael Gowrie, and a full description of his somewhat noticeable personality was given. If found, he was to be brought to the Tarhaven Police Station.
"Ha!" said Kind, laying the paper aside, "Trent is not such a fool as I expected. He knows that Gowrie, who slept in the tap-room, may be able to give evidence as to what took place on that night."
"Why,--if he slept in the tap-room, and the crime took place up the stairs? You know how well-built the walls of the inn are. Any row overhead would not be overheard by a sleeping man."
"That is, if Mr. Gowrie was sleeping," said Kind dryly. "That old cove's a blackguard, and knows more than we think. Didn't you miss some money from your pockets?"
"Yes, but Gowrie----"
"Took it. Of course he did. He knew that you had money, and that you would be sound asleep, worn out with your tramp. He, therefore, when he fancied you were in deep slumber, must have gone up the stairs and turned out your pockets. If he did so, he might have overheard a noise or voices in Sir Simon's room. I know enough of Gowrie to be sure that he would listen. What he overheard may have warned him to make himself scarce. At any rate Trent is well-advised to search for him. I never knew that Trent had so much sense."
Here the conversation ended for the time being. Herries remained in his hiding-place, and Kind strolled round the neighbourhood selling goods, and keeping his eyes open. Armour, contrary to his expectation, was not dismissed, and Elspeth stopped with him and his wife, paying visits ostensibly to Mrs. Kind, but really to Herries, at the caravan. The lovers grew fonder of one another every day, and Elspeth urged Herries to leave the neighbourhood, lest he should be captured. But this he would not do, as he wanted to find out how Maud Tedder took the news that she had been disinherited, and also he desired to learn what difference her disinheriting would make to Kyles' affections. If he was after the money solely, he would probably break the engagement, and return to Señora Guzman, and the "Tarabacca." If, however, he really loved the girl, he would undoubtedly try and get Herries hanged in order that she should get the fortune. But Kind could learn nothing, as after the funeral and the reading of the will, Ritson had gone to Paris for a few days, and Miss Tedder went up to London, together with Mrs. Mountford and the Captain. Without doubt they had gone to see if the will would "hold water," as the saying is, and were taking counsel's opinion on the matter. At least that was Sweetlips' surmise.