“He came,” answered Mr. Fielding, “because he wished to see Kitty and you.”
“Pray what did he want with Kitty?”
“Surely, Mr. Pepperill, you know that the two young people have come to an understanding.”
Pasco shrugged his shoulders. “I may have heard something of the sort, but I have other things more important to interest and occupy my mind. I gave it no heed.”
“Well, he desired to speak with you, as her father was away, and you stood in a semi-parental relation to her, living as she did in your house.”
“Well, he found no one here,” observed Pasco, with some uneasiness of manner.
“As he approached the Cellars he heard an altercation, and then the house door violently slammed. Then, thinking the occasion unpropitious, he turned back.”
“It was fancy. No one was here. My wife was over the water, and I on my way to Brimpts. If you doubt my word, ask Mr. Ash, he receipted my bill, and I had a talk as well with the landlord.”
“That is true, Mr. Pepperill, but Jason Quarm was here. I saw him drive past my gate, and I cast a good-even to him. If an altercation took place here, he was probably one of those engaged in it. I took it for granted that you were the other.”
“I’I’I?” stuttered Pasco.