Macheson was turning away when a slight disturbance in the undergrowth on the other side of the quarry attracted his notice. He stood still and watched the spot. The bracken was shaking slightly--then the sound of a dry twig, suddenly snapped! For a moment he hesitated. Then he turned on his heel and walked abruptly away. With almost feverish haste, he flung his few belongings into his portmanteau, leaving in the shelter his flask, a suit of clothes, and several trifles. Five minutes later he was on his way down the hill, with his bag upon his shoulder and his face set southwards.
Up the broad avenue to the great house of Thorpe, Stephen Hurd slowly made his way, his hands clasped behind him, his eyes fixed upon the ground. But his appearance was not altogether the appearance of a man overcome with grief. The events of the last few days had told upon him, and his deep mourning had a sombre look. Yet there were thoughts working even then in his brain which battled hard with his natural depression. Strange things had happened--stranger things than he was able all at once to digest. He could not see the end, but there were possibilities upon which he scarcely dared to brood.
He was shown into the library and left alone for nearly twenty minutes. Then Wilhelmina came, languid, and moving as though with tired feet. Yet her manner was gentler and kinder than usual. She leaned back in one of the vast easy-chairs, and murmured a few graceful words of sympathy.
"We were all so sorry for you, Mr. Hurd," she said. "It was a most shocking affair."
"I thank you very much--madam," he replied, after a moment's pause. It was better, perhaps, for the present, to assume that their relations were to continue those of employer and employed.
"I do not know," she continued, "whether you care to speak about this shocking affair. Perhaps you would prefer that we did not allude to it for the present."
"I am not sure," he answered, "that it is not rather a relief to have it spoken of. One can't get it out of one's mind, of course."
"There is no news of the man--no fresh capture?"
"None," he answered. "They are dragging the slate quarry again to-day. I believe there are some very deep holes where the body may have drifted."