Jim fully intended to do so, but foolishly put off the matter for a few hours. He wrote to Joyce only on the day before the appointed meeting, and on the next day received a telegram, to the effect that it was not Joyce who had inserted the cipher nor, so said the wire, had Don Manuel.
"What the devil does this mean?" said Jim to himself. "Is it a lie, or a truth? If a lie, Manuel and Joyce are plotting. If true, someone else is taking a hand in the game. I'll see Bess."
The advice of Bess was that Jim should go up to Town without delay. "I am sure there is some mischief brewing," she said, "you had better go up by this afternoon's train."
"No," said Jim after a pause, "I'll see Steve first. He must know all about this before I go. In fact I think I'll take him with me."
"But he has gone away for the day," said Bess, "you know he went out cycling with Ida. He won't be back all day. You have no time to lose."
"I'll wait until he comes back," said Herrick. "I tell you what Bess; this may be a scheme to get me away from Stephen, in order that they may try and hurt him during my absence. After that assault of Manuel's I'm never easy in my mind away from the boy. I can't leave him here. If I go up to Town he must come with me."
Bess was struck by this view of the matter. There might be something in it, she thought. The consequence was that Herrick waited the return of Stephen and arranged to go up to town with him the next morning. All the same Stephen laughed at Dr. Jim. "You are a a perfect old woman about me!" he said. "I can look after myself!"
"I am sure you can deal with honourable foes," said Jim, "but here there is every probability you may be struck in the dark."
Stephen shrugged his shoulders. "Very well Jim. You know best. We can go to town by the mid-day express, to-morrow."
But before they left "The Pines," they received a surprise. In the Times newspaper which usually arrived shortly after eleven, Stephen found some news which surprised him. He went at once in search of Dr. Jim and found him buttoning his gloves on the door-step waiting for the cart to come round. "What do you think of that Herrick?" said the Squire.