of MrMusgrave peeping surreptitiously in through the window and almostimmediately withdrawing with the guilty alacrity of a person caught insome unlawful act was no optical illusion, but a very astoundingactuality.
He glanced at his wife to discover whether she had observed theseunusual proceedings, and, finding that her attention was absorbed in heroccupation, he rose quietly, and without saying anything to her went outto investigate matters. Why, in the name of mystery, should JohnMusgrave prowl about outside the house after the manner of a clumsytrespasser, instead of ringing the bell and stating his business in theordinary way?
The vicar opened the front door and stepped out on the gravelled path,whereupon Mr Musgrave came quickly forward from his place ofconcealment, and, still looking nervous and painfully self-conscious,approached him.
"I am so glad you have come," he said. "I was not sure whether you sawme."
"Oh, I saw you," the vicar answered. "Anyone might have seen you. Ifit had not been yourself, I should have suspected a design on my spoons.Why didn't you come in?"
"I wanted to see you alone--on a very private matter. I want yourhelp."
The vicar looked faintly surprised. He had on occasions required JohnMusgrave's help, though not in any personal sense, but he could notremember in all their long acquaintance that John Musgrave had made ademand of this nature before. It puzzled him to think what form therequest would take.
"Whatever the service may be, you can count it as promised," he said.
"Thank you," Mr Musgrave returned warmly. "I know I can rely both onyour assistance and on your discretion. The fact is, Walter, I have a--a--ahem! a note which I wish delivered to Miss Annersley by a trustymessenger. It must not reach any hand but her own, and--and I do notwish to send it by one of my servants. I would prefer that themessenger should be ignorant as to whom the note comes from."
"Won't the post serve?" the vicar asked, feeling strongly tempted tolaugh.
"There isn't time for the post; she must have the note this evening."
"So imperative as all that!"
Walter Errol looked curiously at the perturbed Mr Musgrave andreflected awhile. Mr Musgrave filled in the pause by explaining thenature of the communication which he was so anxious that Miss Annersleyshould receive without delay. The explanation robbed the adventure ofthe quality of romance with which Walter Errol had been colouring it,and thereby detracted considerably from the interest of the enterprise.Had John Musgrave been more experienced in the ways of the world hewould have given the explanation first and then have preferred hisrequest, having disarmed suspicion in advance. But Mr Musgrave was soconcerned with the necessity for secrecy and dispatch that he lost sightaltogether of certain aspects of the case which would have struck anyoneless simple of purpose; which did, in fact, strike the vicar, in whosemind the picture of John Musgrave accompanying Miss Annersley andDiogenes on their walk was still sufficiently vivid to predispose histhoughts towards speculations which John Musgrave would never havedreamed of.
The purpose of Mr Musgrave's communication to Miss Annersley was towarn her of the escape of Diogenes, who had broken bounds when MrMusgrave, having freed him from the chain, imagined him to be followinghim as usual into the house. Without a doubt Diogenes would return tothe Hall. The note was to warn Peggy of his possible appearance.
"It would seem," observed Mr Errol with a quiet laugh, "that it isimpossible to have Miss Annersley and Diogenes both in Moresby and keepthem apart. I should advise you to confer together, John, and come tosome better arrangement. Otherwise it looks as though you will havetrouble."
"I do not mind the trouble," replied Mr Musgrave seriously. "But Ishould like Miss Annersley to be prepared. It might prove embarrassingfor her if Diogenes suddenly revealed himself to her aunt. I don'tfancy Mrs Chadwick would be deceived."
"I think it highly improbable," the vicar agreed.
He turned the note which Mr Musgrave had delivered to him on his palm,and seemed to weigh it while he scrutinised the writer, weighing othermatters in his mind with equal deliberation.
"I'll see to this. Miss Annersley shall have it. I'm expecting Robertevery minute--he should be here now. When he comes I will send him upto the Hall straight away. You need not fear to trust its safe deliveryto Robert; he will take very good care that it reaches no hand but theright one."
And thus it transpired that Robert, who generally officiated in all themore important events in the lives and after the lives of theinhabitants of Moresby, became mixed up in the affairs of Mr Musgrave;though when he received the letter from the hand of his vicar, with thelatter's careful and explicit instructions, Robert had no idea that hewas acting as secret agent between Mr John Musgrave and the young ladyat the Hall. He cherished, indeed, a dark suspicion that Mr Errol wascorresponding with the young lady, and was unmindful that his wifeshould know it. For the first time since they had worked together thesexton entertained grave doubts of his vicar, and while he pursued hisleisurely way to the Hall in the deepening dusk of advancing night herecalled the story of the strong man with the shorn locks and the womanwhose beauty had robbed him of his strength. Robert held Samson in asgreat contempt as he held Saint Paul in veneration. It was a relief tohim to reflect that the vicar wore his hair clipped close to his head.
Robert, while he walked to the Hall, engaged in a pleasant reverie ofhis own in which a prospective reward for his services figuredprominently. A young lady receiving a _billet doux_--Robert did notcall it thus, being no sympathiser with foreign languages--wouldnaturally reward the messenger. Since he carried in his pocket ashilling which John Musgrave had left with the note, these, reflectionssavoured of a mercenary spirit; but payment in advance is rather anearnest of good-will than a reward for service; the discharge of theobligation should undoubtedly follow the faithful discharge of the duty.
As an earnest of good-will on his side Robert halted at the village innand wasted more valuable time there than Mr Musgrave would haveapproved of in consideration of the urgent nature of his message. Wheneventually Robert proceeded on his way the shadows had gathered withsufficient density to turn his thoughts into the less pleasing directionof the misty horrors associated with the Hall, which in the broad lightof day he was wont to deride.
Thinking of these things against his volition, he quickened his steps;and it was possibly due to the rapidity of his pace and not to extremenervousness that, in passing under the dense overbranching elm-trees inthe drive, which entirely excluded the last faint glimmering of light,the perspiration started on his forehead in large beads and a curiousthrill ran down his spine. It was not until he came within view of thehouse that these uncomfortable symptoms of over-exertion abatedsomewhat, and he was complacently comparing his masculine temerity withHannah's foolish feminine fears of ghosts and such things, when abruptlysomething, unearthly of shape and terrible in appearance, started up outof the shadows and dashed past him, nearly upsetting him in its furiouscharge, and disappearing again in the shelter of the trees.
With a yell, more terrifying than any ghostly apparition, Robert startedto run, and ran on, passing Mr Chadwick, who, cigar in mouth, wastaking an evening stroll, and whom the sexton in his alarm mistook forthe Evil One, emitting fire from his mouth. And while Mr Chadwickturned to stare after the amazing sight of the little man running fordear life, and while Diogenes, having hunted an imaginary night-bird,returned more leisurely to the drive and joined Mr Chadwick in hiswalk, Robert gained the house, gained admittance by the back door, andfrightened the Hall servants badly with his blood-curdling descriptionof the horrors he had encountered on the way. It was the cook's firmconviction, and nothing Robert found to say in expostulation could shakeher belief, that he had been drinking.
"If you aren't drunk," she announced in conclusion, "you ought to beashamed of yourself. A grown man to be scared out of his wits by aghost!"
So unreasonable is feminine logic!
It took Robert some little while to collect his scattere
d thoughtssufficiently to be able to state the business that brought him there.Had it not been for a glass of wine which a sympathetic parlourmaidbrought him, and held for him while he drank, he might not even thenhave remembered the note in his pocket, and the vicar's explicitinstructions that he was to hand it to Miss Annersley himself. Hisinsistent demand to see the young lady confirmed the cook in her opinionof him; but the sympathetic parlourmaid undertook to acquaint MissAnnersley with the news of his presence and his wish to see her, andfinally Robert was conducted to a room which was known as the library,where Peggy, a shining white figure against the dusky background ofbook-lined walls, received him, with manifest wonder in her grey eyes--awonder which changed by imperceptible degrees to amusement as, havingreceived and read her note, she listened to Robert's eloquent tale