There was little to find there but the deep impressions made by the heels, except that a man's footprints were plainly to be seen; and Wilton returned to his wife, rang the bell, and assuming his most judicial air waited. "Send Miss Kate's maid here," he said, sternly. "Yes, sir." "Stop. Look here, Samuel, you are my servant, and I call upon you to speak the whole truth to me about this matter, one which, on further thought, I feel it to be my duty to investigate. Now, tell me, did you know anything about this proceeding on Mr Claud's part?" "No, sir; 'strue as goodness, I didn't." "Mr Claud did not speak to you about it?" "No, sir." "Didn't you see him last night?" "No, sir; I went up to his room to fetch his boots to bring down and dry, but the door was locked, but when I knocked and asked for them he did say something then." "Yes, what did he say?" Samuel glanced at his mistress and hesitated. "Don't look at me, Samuel," said Mrs Wilton; "speak the whole truth." "Yes; what did he say?" cried Wilton, sternly. "Well, sir, he told me to go to the devil." Wilton coughed. "That will do. Go and fetch Miss Wilton's maid." Eliza came, looking red-eyed and pale, but she could give no information, only assure them that she did not understand it, but was certain something must be wrong, for Miss Kate would never have taken such a step without consulting her. And so on, and so on. A regular examination of the servants remaining followed in quite a judicial manner, and once more Kate's aunt and uncle were alone. "There," he said; "I think I have done my duty, my dear. Perhaps, though, I ought to drive over to the station and make inquiries there; but I don't see what good it would do. I could only at the most find out that they had gone to London." "Don't you think, dear, that you ought to communicate with the police?" "No; what for?" "To trace them, dear. The police are so clever; they would be sure to find them out." Wilton coughed. "Perhaps we had better wait, my dear. I fully anticipate that they will come back to-night--or to-morrow morning, full of repentance to ask our forgiveness; and er--I suppose we shall have to look over it." "Well, yes, my dear," said Mrs Wilton. "What's done can't be undone; but I'm sure I don't know what people will say." "I shall be very stern with Claud, though, for it is a most disgraceful act. I wonder at Kate." "Well, I did, my dear, till I began to think, and then I did not; for Claud has such a masterful way with him. He was always too much for me." "Yes," said Wilton dryly; "always. Well, we had better wait and see if they come back." "I am terribly disappointed, though, my dear, for we could have had such a grand wedding. To go off like that and get married, just like a footman and housemaid. Don't you remember James and Sarah?" "Bah! No, I don't remember James and Sarah," said Wilton irascibly.