"Stay here, child."
He left Nance under an oak, and began to explore the place, his sharp eyes soon discovering many suggestive facts. Another horse had been ridden into the clearing, and there was a trampled place where men had fought. What was more, Jeremy found the track through the underwood that De Rothan and his men had made. Twigs were bent and broken, dead leaves kicked up. More than one man had been responsible for this.
He returned to Nance. Her eyes questioned him—like the eyes of one in pain.
"Yes, there are traces. Foul play, probably."
"Do you think that Jasper——?"
"My dear, I don't know. I have found nothing but trampled grass and broken underwood. De Rothan was not alone. He had men with him."
"The coward! He laid a trap?"
"That's what I gather."
Jeremy stood smoothing his chin and staring at the ground.
"This fellow lives over beyond the ridge—Winchelsea way?"