"Madam!"
Diamond raised his hat and stood still, in some surprise.
"Would you be kind enough—do you happen to know whether Mr. Errington has left the post-office? You must have passed the door. You might have seen him coming out."
"I am sorry, madam, that I cannot inform you."
"You—you haven't seen him anywhere in the town?"
"No; I have only just left the Grammar School. Have you any further commands?"
He asked the question after a slight pause, because Castalia remained standing exactly across his path, glancing anxiously up and down the High Street, and apparently oblivious of Diamond's existence.
"Oh no! I beg your pardon," she answered, moving aside. As she did so young Ingleby came up, and was about to pass them when Diamond touched him on the shoulder and said, "Ingleby, have you chanced to see Mr. Errington?"
"Yes, sir; I saw him going down the High Street not two minutes ago, close to old Maxfield's shop. Do you want him, Mrs. Errington? I can easily catch him if I run."
"No, no, no! Don't go! You must not go after him."