“Well, look here, Harry, now that we are alone, I wish to know whether we had not better declare ourselves before I leave, as you are clearly on the best of terms with Miss Dove, and more so, I should say, than if you had introduced yourself to the squire and his daughter as a merchant’s clerk, according to your uncle’s programme?”
“And my father’s, too, Link; don’t forget that.”
“Quite so.”
“The truth is, captain, we’ve no time this morning to concoct any definite plan of campaign, as we appear to all intents and purposes to be the agents of destiny, and I propose that we act and speak simply according to circumstances as they turn up. I agree, however, that we ought to make known our names—perhaps something may occur to enable us to do so with good grace—so now we had better inquire what is the latest report by Warner and the gamekeeper; we must also see to the balloon and Trigger.”
“I am at your service, Harry, and by-the-bye, I hope that you don’t disapprove of my attentions to Miss Chain?”
“That entirely depends, Link, upon four words—‘Do you mean it?’”
“I do, old friend, most certainly.”
“Come along, then, for we’ve a lot to unearth and unravel.”
It seemed that Trigger and Bennet had ascertained that a tall and a short man had been seen to leave the plantation and go up the lane towards the Hall when Miss Dove was in the balloon car, soon after the rifle was fired most likely—afterwards the smaller man was seen to call at Doctor Peter’s house while he was absent in the park. This information was obtained after the local policeman and Warner had failed to find anyone escaping in the direction of Newhaven; but the fugitives might have gone off in a northerly direction, although Warner thought that they would without doubt make off in a southerly direction, with the intention of leaving the country by the mail steamer—that is, if they did not escape through the air, for they both answered to the description of two men who had been trying to fly from Haywards Heath.
Meanwhile Tom Trigger had not been idle in looking to the safety of the balloon, which had been made snug by attaching heavy weights to the netting, which he procured from the gasworks, and additional pipes had been placed on the ground in case a supply of fresh gas was needed. The assistant had also taken other precautionary measures, in the event of a strong wind springing up, and he suggested the advisability of his going up to the Crystal Palace to bring down all the bags and other tackle for holding down the balloon. At the same time he would try to find out from the Sydenham police authorities what Warner was to do, and how long he could stay, as he was trying to be on the track of the fugitives, though he promised to be back to confer with the squire after he had organised a sharp lookout down Newhaven way, where he would not leave a stone unturned in co-operating with the local police.