Madame Valenspin now seemed rather dubious. "I have never tried in the open before," she said, with a slight shiver, "but I will do my best. The conditions seem favourable; but I can't say definitely till we arrive at the exact spot."
Brown, however, could not help observing that the farther they advanced into the country, which became more and more lonely, the more restless and uneasy Madame Valenspin grew.
Once or twice she halted, as if irresolute whether to go on or not, and the moment she caught sight of the hollow she came to a dead stop.
"Not down there," she said. "It's too dark. We'd better stay here."
It was frightfully still. Brown listened for the murmuring of water. There was none. The recent hot sun had probably dried up the spring. Through the same gap in the hedge he saw a big cow--possibly, so he thought, the same cow--and he took it as a favourable augury for the appearance of the ghost that the animal, as before, was gazing fixedly into the open space, as if momentarily expecting to see something.
Behind it, away back in the broad expanse of field, were other cattle, their skins startlingly white; all motionless, and all in attitudes suggestive of a sense of anticipation, of a conscious waiting for something. The sepulchral hush was uninterrupted saving by bats, assuredly the biggest and blackest Brown had ever seen, wheeling and skimming, with the faintest perceptible whiz, whiz, whiz, in and out the larches; and the soft intermittent fanning of the leaves as the night breeze came rustling over the flat country and continued its career down into the hollow. A rabbit scurried across the road from one gate to another, its white breast shining silver, and some other small furry creature, of a species undetected, created a brief pandemonium in a neighbouring ditch. Otherwise all nature was extraordinarily passive.
"The figure went right down into the hollow," Brown said. "I think we ought to try there. What do you think, Mrs. de Roscovi?"
"I am of the same opinion as Madame Valenspin," Mrs. de Roscovi replied, glancing apprehensively at the dip. "I think we had far better stay where we are."
"Very well, then," Brown said, "let's begin. You are mistress of the ceremonies, Madame Valenspin. Will you tell us what to do?"