“That is a very lovely thought, Clara love, and practically the only one that at all sustains me during this trying time.”
“I think I’ll step round to the stables, and see what’s happenin’,” Clara decided, in her inconsequent way.
“The more I think of it the less I like the sound of it.”
Vivian, who had all the time been silent, watched her trail out of the room, and then glanced at Aubrey. “Did you mean that? Do you really think it’s got something to do with the police finding Jimmy? Could he have runaway?”
“My pet, don’t you think he would have taken his car if he had been running away?” suggested Eugene, tweaking her ear.
“Yes, I suppose he would,” she agreed, with a short sigh.
Clifford came back into the room just then, and announced that since there did not seem to be anything he could do, he thought he would be getting back to Liskeard. He wanted to know where his mother was, and when he heard what had taken her down to the stables, he looked rather startled, and said that he hoped to God nothing had happened to Raymond. “Perhaps I’d better wait to see that he’s all right,” he said. “I’ll go and see what they’re doing about sending out to search for him.”
“He’ll turn up all right,” replied Conrad indifferently.
However, Clifford continued to look grave, and took himself off to join Clara. They both returned half-an hour later, with little to report, except that Bart had sent several grooms off in various directions, and had himself ridden up towards the Moor.
“One of the men saw him by the Upper Paddock, watching the colts,” said Clifford. “But that was some hours ago! I can’t make out where he can possibly have gone to. He hasn’t been to the stud-farm, according to Mawgan. The whole thing is utterly incomprehensible!”