“Jump up by the coachman’s side, Bennet, and urge him on,” said the squire, as he entered, in a more resolute spirit; “but stop at the post-office first, Bennet.”
“Pardon me, Squire Dove,” cried Harry Goodall, “wouldn’t it be wise to give your local telegraph office a wide berth?”
“Good again, Goodall! What a far-seeing man you are! Yes, we may save time and stop Warner by so doing.”
The carriage drove off rapidly, the ladies waving, cheering good-byes.
“That was a wise precaution, brother!” exclaimed the squire, as they rolled along en route for the Sussex county town, “and now that we are alone, what about your suggestion, which no one shall know about?”
“To be candid, squire, I would rather, before I unfold it, ask Warner’s opinion as to its practicability. If he approves of it, I might join him in carrying it out. If he disapproves of it, we may leave him to do his best to co-operate with other detectives at Newhaven. But should he agree with my proposal, I will explain the entire scheme to you, and you shall have the casting vote as to its adoption.”
“I hope you are not going to humiliate yourself by acting personally as a detective, Goodall?”
“Oh, dear, no; but don’t be too sensitive on my account, squire; but I have just one idea that might possibly facilitate matters—at anyrate, I will broach it to Warner, as I have every confidence in that man.”
“And so have I,” said the squire. “How opportunely he delivered at the fittest moment your uncle’s letter, to the discomfiture of the doctor.”
“Indeed! that was well put in, wasn’t it, squire?”