“He did leave Riggan,” answered Derrick.
“So I heard,” returned the Rector, “and I suppose I was mistaken in fancying I caught sight of him to-day. I don't know the man very well and I might easily be deceived. But where is he?”
“I think,” said Derrick, quietly, “that he is in Riggan. I am not of the opinion that you were mistaken at all. I am sure he is here, but for reasons of his own he is keeping himself quiet. I know him too well to be deceived by any fancied resemblance.”
“But what are his reasons?” was the next question. “That looks bad, you know. He belongs to a bad crew.”
“Bad enough,” said Derrick.
“Is it a grudge? He is just the rascal to bear a grudge.”
“Yes,” said Derrick. “It is a grudge against me.”
He looked up then across the table at Anice and smiled reassuringly.
“You did not tell us that you had seen him,” she said.
“No. You think I ought to be afraid of him, and I am too vain to like to admit the possibility that it would be better to fear any man, even a Riggan collier.”