"Do you know—I don't just understand those two fellows behind the house last evening, the Jap, you know—and the one who acted as though he were cold. What are we to make of men who edge toward each other, apparently bent upon some sort of a secret communication—and then when they get within speaking distance, work away doggedly and at last depart without exchanging a word?"
"You are quite sure that there was no message dropped across the hedge, or stuck among its branches?"
"Positive. I did not take my eyes off them for a moment; and later I made it my business to go out and look. That they exchanged signals is scarcely possible, unless they were remarkably ingenious ones. And then, had they desired to signal, they could have done so at a distance; it would have been unnecessary for them to risk attracting attention by drawing so closely together."
Ashton-Kirk did not reply; and after another period spent in cogitation, Fuller spoke again.
"The feeling which you have spoken of as existing between old Nanon and her employer is rather queer, isn't it?"
"Somewhat."
"But that she should remain with him—even accompany him to a new country—and all the time hate, or fear, him is perplexing."
Ashton-Kirk nodded, his eyes half closed.
"Yes," he said, "it is rather so. But," and he opened his eyes, "don't forget that this woman is, by her trace of accent, a Breton, and the peasantry of that section have very rigorous notions as to duty."
"They must have if she's borne with his quips and sneers all these years. I can see very readily what Warwick meant when he said you'd not wonder at his lack of interest in Dr. Morse if you knew the man."