Carl gave what sounded like a sigh of relief.
"Doesn't happen to come from America, does he?" he asked carelessly.
"Not that I'm aware of," said Abel.
Valentine Braund caught sight of Carl Meason's face in the light; he turned quickly to look again as the motor went past.
"Funny," he said. "Fancied I'd seen that fellow before."
"Which fellow?" asked Alan.
"The man under the lamp. I'm almost sure of it, but it can't be possible in this quiet place," said Braund.
"His name is Carl Meason, a surveyor I believe; he's studying maps, planning road improvements, and he wants to be quiet," said Alan.
When they arrived at the house and were seated for a quiet smoke Braund said quickly:
"I can't get that fellow out of my head—it's strange."