“Yes,” said Collins, dryly. “I read them on the way down.”
“He seems to be a desperate ruffian. I didn’t quite make out how it was he was actually caught.”
“He wasn’t,” said Collins, “he gave himself up.”
“Oh, I see. It was not clear in the account,” he looked at Collins doubtfully wondering how far it was right to ask him questions without breach of etiquette.
“This is a wonderful piece of country,” said Collins. “It’s one of the finest views I know just before we go down again into the valley. It’s like the view from the Delectable Mountains.”
“You’ve read the ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’?” said the other in surprise.
Collins gave a laugh. “Oh, I don’t spend all my time in bones and blood, though problems do interest me.”
At the risk of courting a snub Eric said, “I expect you are sorry this one is over so quickly?”
“Oh, there will be plenty more,” said he lightly.
On their arrival Mabel met them at the door and greeted Collins warmly—a trifle too warmly—there was just a touch of over effusiveness, which his quick eye noticed.