CHAPTER IV
GOOD NEWS AND BAD
The Squire, with his marked punctuality, was down in the dining-roomwhen Laurence appeared next morning. He was pale and moody, carefullyavoiding any allusion to the event of the previous night. His son couldnot help noticing the bulge in his coat, that betrayed the hiding-placeof Mr. Carrington's revolver. He was inclined to smile at the idea ofthe old gentleman attempting to defend himself, for he had made noeffort to do so the night before.
After breakfast, Laurence made his way into the garden for a smoke. Theday had brightened up, and the sun had made a welcome appearance in theheavens.
The Manse gardener was working outside one of the greenhouses, andrespectfully saluted young Carrington as he strolled up to him.
"Well, Head," Laurence remarked, "seen anything of our mysteriousneighbours?"
He had been careful to impress upon Kingsford and Moggin the necessityof keeping silent about the attempt on the Squire's life, and merelyasked the question because it was one which interested him and thegardener also.
"Yes, sir," responded Head promptly, "we're beginning to learn somethingabout them. Either Major Jones, or his seckitary, or the hodd man ridesa bicycle."
Laurence could not help staring at this intelligence. The gardener,however, did not notice his young master's movement, and proceeded.
"Well, you see, sir, it was this way. My little girl, she tumbled intothe nettles late last evening, and, lor! wasn't there a shindy! The wifedoctored the stings as best she could, and put the youngster to bed, sheand I following soon after. Well, about half-past ten the poor child,not being able to sleep because of the blisters caused by the nettles,my wife said to me, 'Head,' she says, 'just you run out and gather somedock weed to lay on the blisters.' Up I got to do as she asked me, andwent out. You know my house, sir? Well, I was going along the hedge atthe bottom of the garden, just by the road, when I spied a cluster ofdocks at the corner by the fence that cuts our garden off from the Dene.As I was gathering some large leaves, what should I happen to do butlook over the wall and see a queer man creeping along on the other sideleading a bicycle. He jumps through a gap in the hedge, bicycle andall, and rides off down the road. Of course in the dark I couldn'thascertain what his features were like, sir."
"Indeed," broke in Laurence, in a tone which was meant to signify thatthe incident did not interest him so much as it really did, "and thisbicyclist of yours, from which direction did he come?"
"I suppose he came from the house, sir; where else? Though it did strikeme as funny that he should go out of his way as he did, for he startedoff in the direction of the East Cave and the Markiss's."
"And you saw no more of him?"
"No, sir."
Laurence moved away in the direction of the house, whence simultaneouslythere emerged old Mr. Carrington and his watch-dog, Kingsford.
"My dear Laurence," said the former, in evident consternation, "readthis. The Marquis has just sent it over by special messenger." He handedhis son a pencil-scrawled note as he spoke. This Laurence took, andfound that it read as follows:
"Dear CARRINGTON,--
"A terrible event occurred at my place last night. Shortly after you left an alarm of 'Fire' was raised. You can imagine the scene of disorder that resulted! I managed to get everyone out of the way, when we found that the house was blazing in half a dozen places. How it caught fire I cannot even dream, but I know that, were it not for the fact that I am well insured, I should be the most miserable creature on earth! Nothing but blackened ruins is left of the scene of yesterday's festivities! I am asking you to put up Mrs. Knox and her niece, Miss Scott, since I am unable to accommodate them. They were to be my guests for a fortnight, and cannot return home, as their own house is in the hands of the painter. Would you be so kind as to endeavour to manage at least a shake-down for the two ladies for a few days, as I do not wish to make them incur the inevitable annoyance and expense of an hotel existence? I am staying, and intend to do so, with Crooker, my agent, and have sent the wife to Southsea to stay with her sister. Let me know if you can oblige me. I believe you have met Mrs. Knox several times at my house.--Yours,
"MOORLAND."
Laurence perused the letter with a faint smile on his handsome face.
"Of course you will put them up?" he asked his father.
"Of course!" responded the Squire; "but what do you think of the fire?Isn't it terrible?"
"Terrible? How so? Fires must occur sometimes!"
"Of course, but this is the work of an incendiary!"
"Yes, Dad, it certainly looks like it; but why should you be so alarmedabout it? The Marquis is well insured, and, if you are as frightened offire as you are of burglars, why, it's hardly likely that two blazesshould occur in the same district within, well, a dozen years."
Laurence said this to pacify his father, who was almost trembling, witheither fear or horror. But he little expected the Squire's response--
"I was thinking how narrowly we escaped, and," the old man muttered,half aloud, as he moved away, "how desperately this wretch is sealing mydoom!"