‘That is better,’ Mr. Dunborough said, nodding complacently but not moving a finger.  ‘Keep to that and we shall deal.’

‘What is it, man?  What does it mean?’ Sir George repeated.  He was all of a tremble and could scarcely stand.

‘Better and better,’ said Mr. Dunborough, nodding his approval.  ’Keep to that, and your mouth shut, and you shall know all that I know.  It is precious little at best.  I spurred and they spurred, I spurred and they spurred—­there you have it.  When I got up and shouted to them to stop, I suppose they took me for you and thought I should stick to them and take them in Bath.  So they put on the pace a bit, and drew ahead as they came to the houses here, and then began to pull in, recognising me as I thought.  But when I came up, fit and ready to curse their heads off for giving me so much trouble, the fools had cut the leaders’ traces and were off with them, and left me the old rattle-trap there.’

Sir George’s face lightened; he took two steps forward and laid his hand on the chaise door.

‘Just so,’ said Mr. Dunborough nodding coolly.  ’That was my idea.  I did the same.  But, Lord, what their game is I don’t know!  It was empty.’

‘Empty!’ Sir George cried.

‘As empty as it is now,’ Mr. Dunborough answered, shrugging his shoulders.  ’As empty as a bad nut!  If you are not satisfied, look for yourself,’ he continued, rising that Sir George might come at the door.

Soane with a sharp movement plucked the door of the chaise open, and called hoarsely for a light.  A big dingy man in a wrap-rascal coat, which left his brawny neck exposed and betrayed that under the coat he wore only his shirt, held up a lanthorn.  Its light was scarcely needed.  Sir George’s hand, not less than, his eyes, told him that the carriage, a big roomy post-chaise, well-cushioned and padded, was empty.

Aghast and incredulous, Soane turned on Mr. Dunborough.  ’You know better,’ he said furiously.  ’She was here, and you sent her on with them!’

Mr. Dunborough pointed to the man in the wrap-rascal.  ’That man was up as soon as I was,’ he said.  ’Ask him if you don’t believe me.  He opened the chaise door.’

Sir George turned to the man, who, removing the shining leather cap that marked him for a smith, slowly scratched his head.  The other men pressed up behind him to hear, the group growing larger every moment as one and another, awakened by the light and hubbub, came out of his house and joined it.  Even women were beginning to appear on the outskirts of the crowd, their heads muffled in hoods and mobs.

‘The carriage was empty, sure enough, your honour,’ the smith said; ’there is no manner of doubt about that.  I heard the wheels coming, and looked out and saw it stop and the men go off.  There was no woman with them.’

‘How many were they?’ Soane asked sharply.  The man seemed honest.

‘Well, there were two went off with the horses,’ the smith answered, ’and two again slipped off on foot by the lane ’tween the houses there.  I saw no more, your honour, and there were no more.’