Now he had got there, he almost wished he had kept away.  He was not sure of his welcome and did not know what line to take if Featherstone showed his doubts.  For one thing, he did not mean to talk about his adventures in Newcastle and on Spadeadam waste.  The affair was too theatrical for the unimaginative country gentleman to believe, and for that matter, when Foster went up the drive past the well-kept shrubberies and lawn he found it hard to realize that he had been hunted by determined men and was now perhaps in danger of his life.  Featherstone, living in his quiet house, could not be expected to credit such a romantic tale.  Graham’s letters would to some extent corroborate his statements, but not unless Featherstone accepted his surmises as correct; but Foster admitted that after all pride was his strongest motive for saying nothing.  If Featherstone distrusted him, he must continue to do so until Foster’s efforts to help Lawrence were successful.

He braced his courage when he rang the bell, but John, who let him in, did not seem to find anything remarkable in his choice of a companion.  Pete looked very big and rather truculent in his rough, wet clothes, but he was not embarrassed.

“This is a friend of mine,” said Foster.  “I should be obliged if you will look after him.”

John showed no surprise at his statement.  “Very good, sir; I think I can promise that.  Will you give me your coat, sir?” Then he beckoned Pete.  “If you please, come with me.”

He took Pete away and Foster wondered with some amusement what they thought of one another.  A few moments afterwards Alice came in, dressed with a curious elegant plainness that he thought suited her.  Alice needed no ornaments, and fripperies would have struck a jarring note.  Foster sometimes called her stately, though he felt that this was not quite what he meant.  She had a certain quiet grace, touched with pride, that he had never noticed about anybody else, although he admitted that his knowledge of girls like Alice Featherstone was small.  Now, however, she was not as calm as usual, for her eyes had a keen sparkle and her look was animated.  He wondered whether he could believe this was because she was glad to see him.

“You have not been long,” she said with a welcoming smile.  “Have you succeeded?”

“On the whole, I think so,” Foster answered modestly.

“That’s splendid!” she exclaimed and he could not doubt the approval in her voice.  It sounded as if she meant to applaud him as well as show her satisfaction with the consequences of his exploit.

“Well, I haven’t got very far yet, although I imagine I’m on the right line.  But have you heard from Lawrence?”

“No,” she replied and her satisfaction vanished.  Indeed, Foster was somewhat puzzled by the change.  “I must confess that I’m getting anxious now.”

Foster nodded, “Then I must go and look for him as soon as I’ve had a reckoning with Daly.”