"Did you see who was the fare?" asked Hall, pondering.
"No. Wasn't any of my business. I see you're as curious as the rest of 'em about that bar'nit. Why, Mrs. Craver herself has asked questions by the dozen, as you might say. Anyhow, Sankey left his passenger at Maranatha and drove back to Redleigh, for I see him returning."
"Oh," remarked Hall, in guttural tones, "so his fare stops all night with Sir Hector, I s'pose."
"Why shouldn't he or her, for whether the fare was a male or a female I don't rightly know."
"Well, Sir Hector ain't 'ad no one to stay with him before."
"Dessay," returned the policeman, carelessly, "but he has to make a start. I just tell you what, Hall, you're getting like the rest of the folk hereabouts with their jaw."
"Sir Hector do live such a queer life, Jervis."
"He lives the life as pleases him, as I s'pose he's got the right to."
"I tell you there's something strange in a baronet coming down to this dull place when the weather's so bad," persisted the postman, ominously. "Have you seen the gent?"
"Twice. A little gent with a waxed moustache and dressed up to the nines with fine clothes. I touched my helmet but he only nodded, and never stopped to pass the time o' day."