But he did not go very far. Overtaking the boy, he made him leave his luggage at Stroan station, and as soon as the lad was out of sight, he had it taken to one of the inns of the place.
This done, he had his luncheon and walked back to the Blue Lion.
He did not want to put in an appearance until he knew whether Miss Nell had returned from her visit to her friend. But it was a slack time of day at the inn, and there was nobody about of whom he could ask a question. He managed to get a peep into the bar as he walked past the house, but there was no one there, either in front or behind. When he had hung about the place some time, keeping as much out of view of possible watchers as he could, he saw the robust figure of Meg at the side-door. She was shaking out a cloth. She started and uttered a little gasp at sight of him.
“Why,” said he, getting, by a dexterous movement, between her and the door, “what’s the matter? You look scared at the sight of me.”
“Well, I don’t want to have any more to say to you, and that’s the fact,” replied stalwart Meg, with her hands on her hips. “It seems you’re nothing better than a detective chap, what’s come ferreting about the place, asking questions and trying to get us all into trouble. Ugh! I’m ashamed to be seen talking to you!”
“Well, now, can’t you see that it is for the good of all of you that this affair should be cleared up, and that it should be known who it is that has brought the bad name on the house?” said the detective, persuasively. “I’m very sure you ladies must be frightened out of your lives to hear the things that are said. It’ll end by your all going away from the place like Miss Nell has done.”
“Oh, but she’s come back!” replied Meg, quickly, with the idea that there was reproach to her young mistress implied in the suggestion that she had been frightened away. “She didn’t wait long after the master sent for her, I can tell you!”
“And she’s in the house now?” asked the detective, with interest.
“Yes, but not for you to see,” retorted Meg, rudely. “You can worry me with your questions, if you like, but you don’t get at her, if I can help it!”
At that moment, a window was opened above their heads, and the detective, without answering the servant, looked quickly up. He saw Nell standing at the casement, crumbling a piece of bread which she put on the ledge for the birds. Noticing something with a quick eye, he stared up silently, until Nell, whose head was turned away, moved and perceived him. She blushed crimson, and was about to shut the window hastily, when he stopped her by an imperious gesture.