Carfax drew a long breath when the tall, black-coated figure was lost under the tree shadows. Then he turned upon his companion:
“I’m not going to say, ‘I told you so,’ Vance, because I think you came around to my point of view some little time ago. What is the motive—Hartridge’s motive? Is it merely impish humor? Or does it go deeper than that?”
Tregarvon was busily engaged in putting two and two together to make the inevitable four. The schoolmaster was in love with Richardia Birrell; the Philadelphian’s first visit to Highmount had made this perfectly plain: could it be possible that Hartridge was acting as Judge Birrell’s agent in the obstacle-raising? And, if so, did Richardia know it?
“Stay here a few minutes, Poictiers,” he directed. “I’m going to follow him and see if he goes straight back to Highmount.”
“Joy go with you,” said Carfax; and when he was left alone he went to sit on the step of the tool-house to smoke while he waited.
XV
Mammy Ann’s Grave
CARFAX was smoking his third cigarette when Tregarvon returned from spying upon the retreating professor and sat down in sober silence upon the door-step.
The smoker waited patiently for some little time before he said suggestively: “I hope you didn’t have your walk for nothing.”
“I saw all I needed to see.”
“Hartridge went to the college?”