As he said this Ben chanced to look up and caught the look that flashed into his cousin’s face.
“What is it?” he asked wonderingly.
“Oh, nothing,” replied Nat, quickly recovering from the shock which Ben’s news had given him. “I was thinking it rather strange, that’s all.”
“I suppose he must have had some urgent business,” Ben hastened to say in defence of his friend. “Though it must have been a private affair,” he added; “for I made bold to stop Mr. John Adams and make inquiries. Mr. Adams was much put out about Ezra’s absence, for it seems that he had gone off without warning. And, apparently, it had not been the first time. It seems that Ezra had left them much the same way on the road between Bristol and the city.”
Once more a quick shock ran through Nat, for he distinctly recalled the words of Dimisdale and Royce. But this time he hid his feelings and after a little thought asked:
“When will you be riding into town again?”
“Perhaps to-morrow.”
“Then I’ll bear you company,” said Nat, quietly.
Nat spent the greater part of what remained of the day in sleep; when he awoke, evening was settling down once more; and as he dressed he thought of the events of the preceding night.
“It was all queer enough and unexpected enough,” thought he. “But there is no part of it that has the same surprising qualities as the part played by this boy Prentiss.”