‘Not at all. My Eve has been robbed——’
‘Sir!’ said Jasper gravely, ‘I undertook to repay that sum as soon as it should be in my power to do so, principal and interest. I have your permission, sir?’ He bowed and withdrew.
At supper Barbara looked round, and noticed the absence of Jasper Babb, but she said nothing.
‘You need not look at that empty chair,’ said Eve; ‘Mr. Jasper will not be here. He is gone.’
‘Gone where?’
‘Called away suddenly. His father is dying.’
Barbara raised her eyebrows. She was greatly puzzled. She sat playing with her fork, and presently said, ‘This is very odd—who brought the news?’
‘I saw no one. He came in almost directly after we left him on the Raven Rock.’
‘But no one came up to the house.’
‘Oh, yes—Joseph Woodman, Jane’s sweetheart, the policeman.’