Then he heard again steps coming nearer like those which had startled Maisie away.
They had apparently turned off elsewhere the first time—this time they came steadily on.
Chapter Four.
As Despard heard the steps coming nearer he looked round uneasily, with a vague idea of hurrying off so as to escape observation. But when he tried to stand up and walk, he found that anything like quick movement was beyond him still. So he sat down again, endeavouring to look as if nothing were the matter, and that he was merely resting.
Another moment or two, and a young man appeared, coming hastily along the path by which Despard had himself made his way into the shrubbery. He was quite young, two or three and twenty at most, fair, slight, and boyish-looking. He passed by Mr Norreys with but the slightest glance in his direction, but just as Despard was congratulating himself on this, the new-comer stopped short, hesitated, and then, turning round and lifting his hat, came up to him.
“Excuse me,” he said, “do you know Lady Margaret—by sight? Has she passed this way?”
He spoke quickly, and Mr Norreys did not catch the surname.
“No,” he replied, “I have not the honour of the lady’s acquaintance.”