With a contemptuous gesture, as if to spurn her from his sight, he said: 

“Get up, my good woman.  I shall keep your secret as long as it pleases me.  Perhaps for ever, who can tell?  Good John, simple John,” he laughed maliciously.  “He little thinks his wife was given to taking trips to Canterbury with handsome young men.  There!  There!” he added, as a moan of anguish burst from the dry lips of the tortured woman.  “That will do.  I shan’t enlighten good kind John, as long as you do what I want.  I need a bed.  I’m going to sleep here to-night.  Hullo! who’s that?” He broke off suddenly, as Jessica, tired of waiting outside for his departure, entered the room, her dark eyes dilated with anxiety.

She paused at the sound of his voice, and stared at him.  She recognised him as the man she had seen with Leroy, and some subtle instinct seemed to tell her that he was evil.  Jasper, too, stared at her uneasily.  A memory of another person, strangely like her, crossed his mind, but he was too full of his knowledge concerning Leroy to consider any fresh train of thought.

Mrs. Ashford hastily composed her features.

“Only a girl stopping here,” she said hurriedly; then, turning to the silent spectator, she said, “Go, my dear, I shall not want you at present,” and Jessica gladly left the room, while Jasper, taking her to be a servant, gave no more thought to her.

“Now what about a room?” he said imperiously, as he took off his light overcoat.

“You shall have the best, sir,” replied Lucy, only too eager to conciliate him.  “Anything—­everything we have is yours.”

“Very kind of you, I’m sure,” yawned Jasper.  “Set about it then.”

He was tired, for he had done a great deal of walking for him, who was accustomed to use his own or his friend’s motor for every journey, great or small.  Besides, he had somehow missed Adrien despite his care, and was greatly puzzled and irritated.

He was turning to follow Lucy, when there came a sound of footsteps, followed by another loud knock at the door, and a man’s commanding voice: 

“Help!  Quick here with a light!”

Lucy screamed, and Jasper Vermont turned rather pale, for he instantly recognised the voice as that of the man he had sought so diligently all that day.  But he had no desire to be discovered just then, so, taking the frightened woman almost savagely by the arm, he whispered fiercely: 

“You may let him in—­I know him.  But if he finds out that I am here, I will tell John all to-night; remember that.  Hide me somewhere where I can see—­do you understand?  Quick!”

The knocking commenced again, and under its cover, Lucy, trembling like a leaf, opened a door, the upper part of which was glazed, and which led from the small room to the kitchen.  Into this ambush Mr. Vermont hurried, while Lucy ran to the other door and threw it open to admit Adrien Leroy, who staggered into the room with his dripping burden in his arms.