"What is it?" she asked. "A deed Dr. Ashton's lawyer got me to bring and save his clerk a journey--if you must know. I'll take it over at once, while the tea's brewing." As Jabez Gum passed through his own gate he looked towards Mr. Pike's dwelling; it was only natural he should do so after the recent conversation; and he saw that worthy gentleman come stealing across the waste ground, with his usual cautious step. Although not given to exchanging courtesies with his neighbour, the clerk walked briskly towards him now, and waited at the hurdles which divided the waste ground from the road. "I hear you were prowling about the mill when Lord Hartledon met with his accident," began the clerk, in low, condemning tones. "And what if I was," asked Pike, leaning his arms on the hurdles and facing the clerk. "Near the mill I wasn't; about the woods and river I was; and I saw him pass down in the sculling boat with his disabled arm. What of it, I ask?" 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."