“Extremely unlikely, I fancy.”
“They’re up to no good. It isn’t debt. No, not that. He’d have told me, if that was all. If there were a warrant out for his arrest, this is the first place where he’d be looked for. Are the pair of them using my house as a shield to cover some piece of filthy knavery?”
“Gently, sir! This is nothing more than conjecture. The truth may prove to be less serious than you fear. Whatever it may be, only harm can come from your vexing yourself like this.”
“Are you telling me you think that pair are here for any honest purpose?” demanded Sir Peter.
“No, I’m not. I think there’s something devilish smoky afoot, and that’s the truth!” John said bluntly. “It’s my intention to discover just what it is. That’s why I’m remaining at that damned toll-house! It has its drawbacks, but it’s not such a bad ambush, you know.”
Sir Peter regarded him intently. “Is the gatekeeper mixed up in it?”
“That again I don’t know, though I suspect he may be. I have some hopes of discovering his whereabouts at least, and if I can find him trust me to find out the rest! Until we know a little more, it seems to me it might not serve our purpose to turn these fellows out of doors. If it should turn out to be a hanging matter, you want it scotched, not exposed.”
“I want my name kept clean!” Sir Peter said.
“I give you my word I will do my utmost to do that, sir,” John said steadily.
“You may find it beyond your power.”