"I think it more likely that he has run away," said Cromwell.
"He seemed to be very quiet and gentlemanly," said Mr. Manton.
"No doubt he seemed so," said Cromwell, "but his guardian when he confided him to my charge, informed me that he was a hard case, but exceedingly artful, so that no one would suspect it. He was opposed to coming west with me, and my impression is, that he has started for New York secretly. I shall put up a notice calling for information. If I receive none I shall be compelled to go on to New York myself and give information to his guardian of his sudden disappearance."
"You will be compelled to leave your business. I should think that would be inconvenient," said Mr. Manton.
"It will be inconvenient," said Cromwell, "and probably a pecuniary loss, but I feel it my duty, and money is a secondary consideration."
"Perhaps Mr. Raymond may appear in the course of the forenoon," suggested the landlady. "It may be only a boy's adventure."
"I hope you may be right," said Cromwell, "but I hardly think it will prove so."
He did not eat much breakfast. The thought of Robert Raymond lying at the bottom of the pond kept continually recurring to him. He wondered whether he would be found and when. He would like to have set out for New York at once; but if immediately after his departure the body should be found, it would look bad, and possibly excite suspicion. He thought it would be better for him to wait two or three days, and then he would feel at liberty to start on his journey.
If during that time he attended to his business as usual, there would be no chance for suspecting him of having had anything to do with Robert's disappearance.