"I thought so," said the captain, beckoning Job to come farther under the shadow of the ruined arches. "I thought so, Job; it was to speak of him I wanted you here."
He then recounted his adventures of the preceding night after parting from Job and Willie, concluding, emphatically:
"So, if Leicester Dodson has not already discovered the secret, he will do so before many hours are past, to be sure."
Job looked as grave as the captain could desire.
"It's an orkard thing," he muttered. "Who'd 'a' thought as Maester Leicester would 'a' taken the trouble to go looking about after anything? Nobody must interfere, whether it be Maester Leicester or any one else. What I'm grieved at is that it should be him."
"But, bein' him, what then?" asked the captain.
"What's that?" he asked, as a quick, firm step was heard near them.
"It is he, Leicester Dodson," said the captain, as Leicester's stalwart figure moved past the lane. "He is always hanging about on the watch. Rest assured that very few nights will pass before he has unearthed the secret. Remember his own words to me."
Job looked seaward, and a determined light came into his eyes.
"He is going up the cliffs at a good pace," he said. "Perhaps he's going up to the coastguard now."
"What!" he said. "You think it would be easy to tip Mr. Leicester over these cliffs?"
"Easy enough," he muttered; "but is there any occasion for such out and out work as that, cap'n? Look 'ee here," and, drawing the captain closer, he whispered something in his ear.
"I see," he said, musingly, his eyes fixed upon the figure of Leicester, which had dropped down upon the hot grass, with his face turned seaward. "I see. It is a good idea, and easily carried out."
"Well, let it go at that, cap'n," said Job, as if he had been striking a bargain. "Let it go at that. We meet here to-night, say at twelve. You'll work that part of the game, and leave the rest to me."
"Agreed," assented the captain, consulting his watch. And, after a few more words, the conspirators parted--Job stealing away down toward the beach, the captain carelessly passing through the wilderness of the ruined chapel to the trim kept lawns of the Park.
As he entered the hall, the servant brought him a note.
