"You could not swear to their being those in which he went out the morning he was lost, nurse?"
"I can, sir, because there is nothing missing except what he had on. I have all his things properly counted, and everything is there."
At this moment there was a little stir outside, and Hilda glanced down and whispered to Netta:
"Let down your fall; I do not want this man to recognize you."
Just as she did so John Simcoe entered. He bowed to Hilda.
"I am sorry, indeed, to meet you under such painful circumstances."
"I beg you not to address me, sir," she said haughtily. "I wish to have no communication with or from you. Your coming here reminds me of the thirty-seventh verse of the nineteenth chapter of St. John. You can look it out, sir, if you happen to have a Bible at home. Fortunately it is not wholly applicable, for we are all absolutely convinced that this poor little body is not that of General Mathieson's grandson."
So saying she stepped out of the little house, followed by the others; leaving John Simcoe white with passion.
"You should not have shown your hand so plainly, Miss Covington."
"I could not help it," the girl said. "He has called a dozen times at the house and has always received the message, 'Not at home,' and he must know that I suspect him of being Walter's abductor."