She went on, as if anxious to change the subject: “You stayed the night with Barnabas, didn’t you?”
“Yes, and came on the next day, and climbed up to this old place because I wanted to see where you were going to live.”
“Did you meet anybody?”
“Only one person, a rough-looking fellow, who told me I was trespassing, and ordered me into the road. I had got over into the fields between the house and the ruin.”
“Was he tall, with a short greyish beard?”
“Yes.”
“That was Crispin Bean.”
“Oh, yes, I’ve heard of him; he was a devoted servant to your father. I’ve been making inquiries to find out whose care you’d been left in.”
“That was very kind of you. Then you’ve been in Presterby on business? What business?”
“Ah, that’s the question.”