“A Flying Visit.—The extraordinary experiment lately made by a Professor Scudder and his director, at Haywards Heath, with the object of showing a new mode of flight, has led to inquiry respecting the two individuals who so suddenly appeared in that part and who disappeared so hastily. All sorts of conjectures have been formed as to who they are and where they came from—fortunately a snap-shot by a local photographer was taken just before the flying machine started, when the quasi director lost part of his disguise and Scudder was about to start. This photo has, we hear, been secured by someone who is of opinion that the adventurers are not after all Dutchmen, but two persons who have been obtaining money under false pretences, and whose pretended flight through the air is thought to be a mere ruse to draw off attention to a more extended ‘flight’ by land and sea. Further enquiries are being made, we hear.”
“Quite right, too,” said the squire, “for they may turn out to be—”
“Hush, papa! the doctor is coming, and may as well be kept in ignorance of this suspicion.”
CHAPTER XV
WANTED BY WARNER
“Tired Nature’s sweet restorer” had not been indulgent to the visitors at Wedwell Hall, the reason perhaps being that they were conscious of having upset the quiet routine of the Doves by having shaken their faith in Falcon, but they did not do so designedly to cause mischief, but rather to expose an outrageous impostor.
The aeronaut was the first to make his appearance the next morning, before the squire or Miss Dove were astir, and the lady’s maid, Lucy, took this opportunity of saying a few words to Harry Goodall, her former employer. Amongst other things, she told him that Miss Dove and Miss Chain were fairly well, and that they had been talking about him and saying many sweet things about him; but the aeronaut passed the matter by and asked if there was any news of the runaway rascals.
“Lor’, sir, haven’t you heard that the men who attacked the cook are supposed to be burglars, and have taken to flight?”
“No, I had not. Tell me about it. But I want to hear first of all about the Crystal Palace photograph. How came you to bring that forward, Lucy?”
“Well, sir, I gave it to Miss Chain for a good motive. I wanted to endear my mistress to you and to Miss Chain, if the truth must be told; but don’t you mind what the doctor says, Mr Goodall.”
“I cannot be indifferent to his remarks, Lucy, for he may be in some way mixed up with Mr Falcon.”