The next thing of which the detective was conscious was that there was a sound like a fall at the bottom of the stairs, and then the back door was opened and shut again with a bang.
CHAPTER IX.
Cursing his own ill-luck and the deftness and fleetness of foot of his antagonist, the detective hurried down the stairs and dashed out by the back door, just as he heard the voice of George Claris from above calling out to know what was the matter.
Now, there was by this time enough daylight for the detective to flatter himself that the chase would be a short one when once he got out of doors. He was surprised to find, therefore, that the mysterious creature he was pursuing had vanished altogether, leaving no trace. Dashing out among the cabbage-stumps he had a wide view over the fields and across the little river. But there was not a sound, not the flutter of a skirt, to help him in his search. He went carefully around the house, in the first place, trying the doors of the outhouses and peering about for nooks and corners in which the thief might lie hidden. As for the house itself, the lower windows were secured by shutters and bore no sign of having been tampered with, while the front door was securely fastened from the inside. He then made his way to the group of cottages which stood near, and questioned a laborer, who was just leaving one of them to go to his work, as to whether he had seen any person about within the last few minutes. The man answered in the negative.
Returning to the back of the inn, the detective was struck by the circumstance that a punt which had been moored at the inn side of the river before he made his tour of the house, was now fastened to a post by the opposite bank. He had just noted this circumstance, when the innkeeper came out. He looked very surly, and he went up to the sham commercial traveller in a threatening manner.
“So it’s you that’s been turnin’ the place upside down, is it? An’ all for what? That’s what I’d like to know. All for what?”
“You’ll know all in good time,” said the detective, dryly. “I want to see the women folk in your house, if you please, ladies and all. I dare say you know what I’ve come about. I don’t want to be of any more trouble than I can help, but I’ve got to clear this business up.”
“Well, you may ferret it out your own way, then,” said Claris, sullenly. “I’m not going to have nobody disturbed by you.”
“Well,” returned the other, in a conciliatory tone, “I don’t want to put the ladies to any inconvenience, I’m sure. But if they’ll answer a few questions, they’ll help me, and you, too. For I’m sure, sir, it’s by no wish of yours that these tales have got about, and that you’ll be very glad to hear the last of them.”
“That’s as it may be,” said George. “But I’ll not stand any inquisitor’s work to set them all in hysterics. And anyhow, by this time they’re all out an’ about, and if you want to talk to them, you may find ’em.”