"Drive on!" impatiently cried Sir Philip, who now became less agitated. Above four miles from Lexville, and no upset, there must have been time for the first heat of the excited beasts to cool down, and for the postillions to regain command over them; so that he was in momentary expectation of encountering the returning chariot; but still it did not appear. "Should we be in time if we found him now?" exclaimed Sir Philip. "What, to get back to the church?" said Mr Bray, nervously referring to his watch. "I fear not, I fear not." "How unfortunate!" exclaimed Sir Philip; and then he relapsed into silence, save when at intervals he spoke to the coachman, who kept the well-bred pair of horses at a brisk gallop. "Stop here," cried Sir Philip, as they neared a roadside inn, where a wagon and half a dozen labourers were standing, ready enough to stare at the rapidly-approaching vehicle. "Carriage and four go by here a few minutes ago?" cried Sir Philip to the landlord, who now came bustling out. "No, sir; not by here." "Are you sure?" exclaimed Sir Philip, with a perplexed air. "Sure, sir? O yes, sir, quite sure," said the landlord, "or must have seen it. We see everything that goes by here, sir.--Haven't seen a four-horse coach go by, have you, lads?" he continued, addressing the wagoners. "No, no," cried Sir Philip. "A chariot with four horses and postillions--post-boys in bluejackets?" "No, sir--no, sir--not come by here!" was chorused. "We could not have passed them, upset in one of the ditches, could we?" hinted Mr Bray. "Impossible!" cried Sir Philip. "But where could they have turned off?" "Like to take the horses out and wait, sir? They may come soon," said the landlord. "No, no, my man," hastily cried Sir Philip. "There is nowhere for a carriage to turn off from the high-road during these last two miles, is there?" "Whoy yes, sur," said one of the wagoners, "there's Bogle's-lane as goes to Squire Lethbridge's fa-arm; and the low lane down by the beck." "Ay, lad, and theer's ta by-ro-ad as goes to Bellby and La-a-anton." "Laneton--Laneton?" Sir Philip exclaimed. "Here, my lads," he cried, and he threw two or three coins amongst the men. "To be sure! Turn back quick, William; they may have gone that way." The coachman turned his panting horses, and they went back at a smart trot towards the by-lane mentioned, a good mile and a half back; while a flood of thought passed the while through Sir Philip's troubled brain.