“Anyway,” said Brand, “we must do everything according to law.”
“Law! I want no law,” answered Carriston. “I have found her, as I knew I should find her. I shall simply fetch her, and at once. You can come with me or stay here, as you like, doctor; but I am afraid I must trouble your friend to drive me somewhere near the place he speaks of.”
Foreseeing an adventure and great fun—moreover, not unmoved by thoughts of revenge—I placed myself entirely at Carriston’s disposal. He expressed his gratitude, and suggested that we should start at once. In a few minutes we were ready, and mounted the dog-cart. Brand, after grumbling loudly at the whole proceeding, finished up by following us, and installing himself in the back seat. Carriston placed a parcel he carried inside the cart, and away we went.
It was now nearly dark, and raining cats and dogs. I had my lamps lighted, so we got along without much difficulty. The roads were deep with mud; but by this time the snow had been pretty nearly washed away from everywhere. I don’t make a mistake in a road twice, so in due course we reached the scene of my upset. Here I drew up.
“The house lies about five hundred yards up the lane,” I told Carriston; “we had better get out here.”
“What about the horse?” asked Brand.
“No chance of any one passing this way on such a night as this; so let us put out the lamps and tie him up somewhere.”
We did so; then struggled on afoot until we saw the gleam of light which had been so welcomed by me two nights before.
It was just about as dark as pitch; but guided by the light, we went on until we stood in front of the house, where a turf bank and a dry hedge hid us from sight, although on such a night we had little fear of our presence being discovered.