It was almost dark by the time they reached the lodge gates. Brett, moved by impulse, stopped the carriage in the main road. The others alighted after him. Mrs. Crowe, the lodge-keeper’s wife, opened the gates, and evidently wondered why the carriage did not enter.
“Good evening, Mrs. Crowe,” said Brett, advancing. “Have you seen a telegraph messenger recently?”
“Lawk, sir,” she cried, “I didn’t recognise you in the gloom! No, sir, there’s been no messenger, only—”
Then she uttered a startled exclamation.
“Why, there’s Mr. David an’ Mr. Robert! I could ha’ sworn one of you gentlemen walked up to the house five minutes ago, an’ I wunnered you never took no notice of me. Well, of all the strange things!”
“It was a natural mistake,” said the barrister quietly.
Then he told the coachman to wait where he was until a message reached him from the house.
He did not want to disturb the visitor who had caused Mrs. Crowe to “wunner,” nor was there any use in sending the carriage back to Stowmarket. Somehow, he felt that Capella would not come to Beechcroft that night.
The five men went rapidly and silently up the avenue. As they approached the lighted library, they could see a servant parleying with the Japanese.
A motion of Brett’s hand brought the party into the shade of the sombre yews.