"You cannot help me in this, Martin."
"I am under no oath not to thwart you should the price you are prepared to pay be too large."
"That is why I do not tell you, Martin."
Fairley asked no further question, but rode on by the carriage in silence. He believed that she was going to bargain with Lord Rosmore, and his brain was full of schemes to frustrate her, or at least to prevent her fulfilling the bargain, even if it were made. It was not necessary to be honest in dealing with such a scoundrel, he argued, and even if it were wise to let the bargain be struck, he would see to it that Lord Rosmore should not profit by it.
"This is the road," he said to the post-boy, and the carriage swung round into what was little more than a lane.
Harriet Payne gave a little cry, and looked from the window.
"I thought we were over, but we are off the road. Forbid this way, mistress; I pray you forbid it."
For an instant Barbara wondered whether this was a scheme of Martin's to keep her from her purpose but the idea was absurd. He was as anxious that Gilbert Crosby should be rescued as she was. She commanded Harriet to keep quiet.
Progress was slower now, for this side road was heavy, and the coach came near to being overturned more than once.
"It will be better presently," said Martin, but it was a long time before his prophecy came true, and when it did, the improvement was not very great.