“Not a bit,” he answered.  “I think I shall take a gun now and stroll down the meadows and across the rough ground.  Will you come with me, or will you put on one of your pretty gowns and entertain me downstairs at luncheon?  It is a very long time since we had a meal alone together.”

She shook her head a little sadly.

“We never have had,” she answered.  “You know that, Everard, and alas!  I know it.  But we are going on pretending, aren’t we?”

He raised her fingers to his lips and kissed them.

“You shall pretend all that you like, dear Rosamund,” he promised, “and I will be the shadow of your desires.  No!  No tears!” he added quickly, as she turned away.  “Remember there is nothing but happiness for you now.  Whoever I am or am not, that is my one aim in life.”

She clutched at his hand passionately, and suddenly, as though finding it insufficient, twined her arms around his neck and kissed him.

“Let me come with you,” she begged.  “I can’t bear to let you go.  I’ll be very quiet.  Will you wait ten minutes for me?”

“Of course,” he answered.

He strolled down towards the gun room, stood by the fire for a moment, and then wandered out into the courtyard, where Middleton and a couple of beaters were waiting for him with the dogs.  He had scarcely taken a step towards them, however, when he stopped short.  To his amazement Seaman was there, standing a little on one side, with his eyes fixed upon the windows of the servants’ quarters.

“Hullo, my friend!” he exclaimed.  “Why, I thought you went by the early train from Thursford Station?”

“Missed it by two minutes,” Seaman replied with a glance towards the beaters.  “I knew all the cars were full for the eleven o’clock, so I thought I’d wait till the afternoon.”

“And where have you been to for the last few hours, then?”

Seaman had reached his side now and was out of earshot of the others.

“Trying to solve the mystery of Johann Wolff’s sudden departure last night.  Come and walk down the avenue with me a short way.”

“A very short distance, then.  I am expecting Lady Dominey.”

They passed through the thin iron gates and paced along one of the back entrances to the Hall.

“Do not think me indiscreet,” Seaman began.  “I returned without the knowledge of any one, and I kept out of the way until they had all gone.  It is what I told you before.  Things which I do not understand depress me, and behold!  I have found proof this morning of a further significance in Wolff’s sudden departure.”

“Proceed,” Dominey begged.

“I learned this morning, entirely by accident, that Mr. Pelham’s servant was either mistaken or willfully deceived me.  Wolff did not accompany your butler to the station.”

“And how did you find that out?” Dominey demanded.

“It is immaterial!  What is material is that there is a sort of conspiracy amongst the servants here to conceal the manner of his leaving.  Do not interrupt me, I beg!  Early this morning there was a fresh fall of snow which has now disappeared.  Outside the window of the room which I found locked were the marks of footsteps and the tracks of a small car.”