“Well,” said John, “I’ll tell you what we can do. Let one of us go to the inns that are nearest, and ask if there was a girl in the coach that looked like her, or make any inquiries that may be needed. We could find out that much at any rate.”
The others assented. John swore he was too tired. At length, after some conversation, they all determined to go on, and to hire a carriage back. Accordingly on they went, and soon reached an inn.
Here they made inquiries, but could learn nothing whatever about any girl that had stopped there. Potts then hired a carriage and drove off to the next inn, leaving the others behind. He returned in about two hours. His face bore an expression of deep perplexity.
“Well, what luck, dad?” asked John.
“There’s the devil to pay,” growled Potts.
“Did you find her?”
“There is a girl at the next inn, and it’s her. Now what name do you think they call her by?”
“What?”
“Miss Despard.”
Clark turned pale and looked at John, who gave a long, low whistle.