It was an hour later, and the early night had already fallen, when there was a ring at the West door, and Old Hosie entered, alone. Katharine quickly led the old lawyer into the parlour.
“Well?” she whispered.
“Manning has just accepted an invitation for an automobile ride this evening from Charlie Peck.”
Katherine suddenly gripped his hand.
“That may be a bite!”
The old man nodded with suppressed excitement.
“They were to set out at six. It’s five minutes to six now.”
Without a word Katherine crossed swiftly and opened the door an inch, and stood tensely waiting beside it. Presently, through the calm of the Sabbath evening, there started up very near the sudden buzzing of a cranked-up car. Then swiftly the buzzing faded away into the distance.
Katherine turned.
“It’s Mr. Blake’s car. They’ll all be at The Sycamores in half an hour. It’s a bite, certain! Get hold of Mr. Manning as soon as he comes back, and bring him here. The house will be darkened, but the front door will be unlocked. Come right in. Come as late as you please. You’ll find me waiting here in the parlour.”