He answered and evaded them as well as he could, without betraying that he was in any trouble, but he was deeply disappointed to find that Chi Lu had left the place.
He was told that he had left very suddenly, but came back after a time, when he disposed of his cabin that Sir William had given him, and then disappeared altogether.
The baronet sought out Margery Follet, and was impressed the moment that he saw her that she had something on her mind.
She eyed him with suspicion, seemed averse to holding any conversation with him, and never once inquired regarding his wife.
This alone made the young baronet hope that she knew something of Virgie, for, having been at her wedding, and afterward assisted her in many ways during Mr. Abbott's last illness, it would have been but natural for her to wish to know something about her.
By adroitly questioning her he became convinced of the truth of his suspicion, and finally he charged her outright with having recently seen his wife.
The woman stammered, blushed, and finally assumed a defiant attitude, and Sir William was sure.
He then told her something of his trouble, enjoining her to secrecy, and finally she confessed that one day Chi Lu had come to her and persuaded her to go with him before the county magistrate to sign a paper stating that she had been a witness to the marriage of Miss Abbot with Mr. Heath. Chi Lu had given her a handsome sum for her trouble and to keep silent about the matter afterward.
This confession gave Sir William great hope. It told him that Virgie had been in that vicinity; that she was gathering what proofs she could toward establishing the legality of her marriage, with a view to claiming her rights as a lawful wife.
He was very much elated over the discovery, and at once repaired to the county town, to seek out the magistrate and learn what he could from him.