"Thank you!" Allan said. "And now, one thing more, how is the old place called, Mr. Dalabey?"
"Why 'tis Homewood Manor, I thought as I mentioned the name in my letter——"
"No, you did not, though I remember someone else spoke of it to me—Homewood Manor, that is strange!"
"In the Parish of Homewood it be," said Dalabey, "just within, and the next Parish be Little Stretton, but as this——"
"I understand, I quite understand, but all the same it is curious!"
"I don't see how," said Mr. Dalabey, "curious it 'ud be if it were called anything else, sir!"
"Look at the cheque, at the signature!" Allan said.
Mr. Dalabey looked, he uttered an exclamation as he spelled out Josiah Homewood's crabbed handwriting.
"Very odd it be, I swear!" he said. "And very right and proper too, come to that, nothing could be better! Mr. Homewood of Homewood Manor, it sounds good, sir! And now I'll get back and a cup o' tea'll be ready for you in say an hour's time——"
"Say two——" Allan said, "and thank you!"