Captain Welfare looked almost startled, and then glanced enquiringly at Edmund.
“Somebody’s getting his horse shod out of hours,” said the bishop. “The sound seems plainer than ever to-night. Have you heard it before, Captain Welfare?”
“No, my Lord. Mr. Davoren was just telling me something about it when you came up.”
“Edmund has been exploring and opening up the fabled passage, which proves to be quite genuine.”
“Really? What did you find, Mr. Davoren?”
“Oh, the passage is all right. Bates and I only shifted some rubbish in places and shored up the roof here and there. There’s a good sound passage with a vaulted roof right down to the beach.”
“And you think it was really a smugglers’ passage?”
I explained my theory of its Saxon origin.
“It should be quite an important find. You must have old Smith and some other experts down.”
“Some day,” I said, “but we’re keeping it to ourselves for a bit.”