Nan turned from the fire without a word, and beckoning to Sue, who followed her, still weeping, she went out and shut the door behind her.
Gilbot looked after her.
“’Tis a wonderful strange woman she is,” he said thoughtfully, “talking about granddaughters and such like, and her never having had a child.”
He shook his head and then turned to the table. “We must get him out of here,” he said, suddenly growing nervous again, as he looked at the dead Spaniard.
“Here, Hal, Joe, take him down to the mud. It will do the old place no good if folk get to know he’s lying here,” and he began to drag the limp mass on to the floor.
Joe looked up at the clock.
“Half-past twelve,” he said thoughtfully. “’Twill be full dawn at five.”
Then he turned to Hal.
“In four hours I’ll risk going out with him, lad,” he said. “Will you wait till then?”
Hal nodded.