Again Mr. Gall passed his thumb round the inside of his belt, testing the local pressure in anticipation of a pint.  He made a sort of half-military salute at the door and went out.  When the squire was alone he rose from his chair and paced the room, giving way to the agitation he had concealed in the presence of the constable.  He was very much disturbed at the news of Goddard’s escape, as well he might be.  Not that he was aware that the convict knew of his wife’s whereabouts; he did not even suppose that Goddard could ascertain for some time where she was living, still less that he would boldly present himself in Billingsfield.  But it was bad enough to know that the man was again at large.  So long as he was safely lodged in prison, Mrs. Goddard was herself safe; but if once he regained his liberty and baffled the police he would certainly end by finding out Mary’s address and there was no telling to what annoyance, to what danger, to what sufferings she might be exposed.  Here was a new interest, indeed, and one which promised to afford the squire occupation until the fellow was caught.

Mr. Juxon knew that he was right in putting the policeman off the track in regard to Mrs. Goddard.  He himself was a better detective than Gall, for he went daily to the cottage and if anything was wrong there, was quite sure to discover it.  If Goddard ever made his way to Billingsfield it could only be for the purpose of seeing his wife, and if he succeeded in this, Mrs. Goddard could not conceal it from the squire.  She was a nervous woman who could not hide her emotions; she would find herself in a terrible difficulty and she would perhaps turn to her friend for assistance.  If Mr. Juxon could lay his hands on Goddard, he flattered himself he was much more able to arrest a desperate man than mild-eyed Policeman Gall.  He had not been at sea for thirty years in vain, and in his time he had handled many a rough customer.  He debated however upon the course he should pursue.  As in his opinion it was unlikely that Goddard would find out his wife for some time, and improbable that he would waste such precious time in looking for her, it seemed far from advisable to warn her that the felon had escaped.  On the other hand he mistrusted his own judgment; if she were not prepared it was just possible that the man should come upon her unawares, and the shock of seeing him might be very much worse than the shock of being told that he was at large.  He might consult the vicar.

At first, the old feeling that it would be disloyal to Mrs. Goddard even to hint to Mr. Ambrose that he was acquainted with her story withheld him from pursuing such a course.  But as he turned the matter over in his mind it seemed to him that since it was directly for her good, he would now be justified in speaking.  He liked the vicar and he trusted him.  He knew that the vicar had been a good friend to Mrs. Goddard and that he would stand by her in any difficulty so