At breakfast the next morning James Hope spoke again about Finlay.
“The man went home last night with Aeneas Moylin. I think that I ought to go to Donegore to-day and tell Aeneas of our suspicions. I had intended to go straight to Templepatrick, and I might have had your company so far, but it will certainly be better for me to go round by Donegore.”
Donald Ward nodded.
“I shall not see Finlay himself,” said Hope. “He was to leave early this morning for Belfast. You must ride fast to be there before him.”
He paused. Then, after a moment’s thought, he said:
“I should like to have Neal with me, if you can spare him, Donald Ward, if you do not object to riding alone.”
“I am sure,” said Donald, “that Neal will benefit much more by your company than mine. He can join me in Belfast this evening.”
This was Donald’s apology, his confession of contrition for the rough language of the night before; his confession that in James Hope he had met a man who was his superior.
“So be it,” said Hope. “I shall not propose to you, Neal, that we ride and tie as the custom of the country is for travellers who have only one horse between them. You shall lead the horse, and so we shall be able to talk to each other.”
Neal agreed to the plan gladly. He was greatly attracted by James Hope, and glad to spend some hours with him.