Pike’s tone, though short, was civil enough.  The forced appearance before the coroner and public had disturbed his equanimity in no slight degree, and taken for the present all insolence out of him.

“Should any doubt get afloat that his lordship’s death might not have been accidental, your presence at the spot would tell against you.”

“No, it wouldn’t.  I left the spot before the accident could have happened; and I came back to Calne with a witness.  As to the death having been something worse than accident, not a soul in the place has dreamt of such a thing except me.”

“Except you!  What do you mean?”

Pike leaned more over the hurdles, so as to bring his disreputable face closer to Mr. Gum, who slightly recoiled as he caught the low whisper.

“I don’t think the death was accidental.  I believe his lordship was just put out of the way quietly.”

“Heaven forbid!” exclaimed the shocked clerk.  “By whom?  By you?” he added, in his bewilderment.

“No,” returned the man.  “If I’d done it, I shouldn’t talk about it.”

“What do you mean?” cried Mr. Gum.

“I mean that I have my suspicions; and good suspicions they are.  Many a man has been hung on less.  I am not going to tell them; perhaps not ever.  I shall wait and keep my eyes open, and bring them, if I can, to certainties.  Time enough to talk then, or keep silent, as circumstances may dictate.”

“And you tell me you were not near the place at the time of the accident?”

“I wasn’t,” replied Mr. Pike, with emphasis.

“Who was?”

“That’s my secret.  And as I’ve a little matter of business on hand to-night, I don’t care to be further delayed, if it’s all the same to you, neighbour.  And instead of your accusing me of prowling about the mill again, perhaps you’ll just give a thought occasionally to what I have now said, keeping it to yourself.  I’m not afraid of your spreading it in Calne; for it might bring a hornets’ nest about your head, and about some other heads that you wouldn’t like to injure.”

With the last words Mr. Pike crossed the hurdles and went off in the direction of Hartledon.  It was a light night, and the clerk stood and stared after him.  To say that Jabez Gum in his astonishment was uncertain whether he stood on his head or his heels, would be saying little; and how much of these assertions he might believe, and what mischief Mr. Pike might be going after to-night, he knew not.  Drawing a long sigh, which did not sound very much like a sigh of relief, he at length turned off to Dr. Ashton’s, and the man disappeared.

We must follow Pike.  He went stealthily up the road past Hartledon, keeping in the shade of the hedge, and shrinking into it when he saw any one coming.  Striking off when he neared the mill, he approached it cautiously, and halted amidst some trees, whence he had a view of the mill-door.