“Phil,” said Chap, that evening, after supper, “will you lend me one of these canes in the rack?”
“They are all uncle’s canes,” said Phil, who was reading by the lamp which stood on the hall-table; “but he’d lend you one, of course. What are you going to do with it?”
“Oh, I’m just going to take a little walk,” said Chap, selecting the heaviest and knottiest stick in the rack. “I’m tired of the kind of strategic warfare I’ve been carrying on to-day, and I’d like to change to something straight out and simple. Perhaps the man with the black straw hat may be coming to-night on one of his nocturnal prowls; and if he does, I’d like to meet him by moonlight alone.”
“You needn’t expect him,” said Phil, laughing. “Everybody knows now that uncle isn’t at home.”
It so happened that the man with the black straw hat was walking that evening towards Hyson Hall.
He had seen the notice at the post-office, had gone to Mr. McNeal’s store, and had recovered his hat. He had asked who brought it there, and when told it was Phil he made up his mind that perhaps that boy was old enough to talk to; and, as no one knew when Mr. Berkeley would be at home, he might as well go and have a little conversation with his nephew.
CHAPTER X.
IN WHICH A STORY IS TOLD.
The moon had risen quite high by the time the man with the black straw hat had entered the grounds of Hyson Hall, but the roadway near the house was overshadowed by large trees, making the light very dim and uncertain.
As the man walked up this dusky avenue, he was revolving in his mind various ways of opening his intended interview with Phil. He did not care to explain his business to a boy, and in fact it was only with Mr. Godfrey Berkeley that he could take any decisive steps in the matter, but he thought it was of no use for him to stay any longer in that part of the country, unless he could find out something in regard to the business on which he came.