She pointed to the heights. Dotting the plateau, peeping in at the round tower, holding hands and waists for security as they bent forward over the edge to look at the scene of the tragedy below, were the idlers. Mary Anne sat down near the table, her elbow on it, her head leaning on her hand, her eyes bent on the carpet, and told the particulars that the world knew. Lady Ellis heard them to the end without comment.
"But why should he have gone on the plateau at all?" she questioned.
"I don't know. He did go. As I stood at the door watching him off, he turned from the road to the plateau. I saw him. I saw him cross the railings."
"And your brother Richard saw him?"
"Yes, as he was coming off. They stood talking for a minute or two, Richard says. Cyril came up then, and he started to walk a little way with Robert Hunter."
"But what does Cyril say? Where is he?"
"He has not been home since. They suppose he went on to Jutpoint and slept there. Nothing more except this is known."
"But Mr. Hunter must have come back again?"
"Of course he must. It is his coining back that is so unaccountable."
"And why--why should Cyril walk to Jutpoint, unless he walked with Mr. Hunter?" resumed Lady Ellis after a pause.