"I hope you slept well, Vernon," said the Colonel to his guest the next morning when they were at breakfast.
"Like a top," was the response. "That journey tired me out, and your moorland air is so strong that I slept the moment my head was on the pillow."
"You will eat well also, Vernon," remarked Towton, regarding with satisfaction the attention paid by his visitor to the appetising meal. "Our air is famous as a tonic. You will return to town a giant refreshed."
"There is lots to be done before I leave here," said Vernon passing his cup for a fresh supply of coffee. "What is your first step?"
"We will call on Miss Hest this afternoon, and I can show you the village at the same time. Lady Corsoon and her daughter will come to-day, and will arrive to dinner. That is the programme."
"I'm at your disposal. And to-morrow I suppose you will get Lady Corsoon to take charge of Ida?"
"If Miss Hest will let her go," said the Colonel cautiously.
"She can't detain her, surely."
"Not by outward force; but she may use her influence to keep her. Miss Hest won't lose the chance of swaying the mind of a girl with ten thousand a year. You may be sure of that."
"H'm," said Vernon finishing the last of his coffee. "If Ida learned the secret of Dimsdale from Maunders, disguised as Diabella, you may be sure that she told Miss Hest. In that case, Ida is not worth keeping."