“I fancy he did. I heard he wanted to reach Portsmouth, and the tide was out when he got here, so he could not cross in the ferry. He went on. At Teignmouth he would get into the Atmospheric.” “That is readily ascertained. We have but to send to Shaldon and inquire. The boatman who took him across can be found. If he crossed the wooden bridge, then the man who takes toll will be able to say something.” “He may have gone round the head of the estuary.” “Not likely, if he left his cart and donkey here.” Pepperill was unable to answer. He was a heavy-headed man, not quick at invention. “Then,” continued the rector, “the warehouse did not catch fire of itself; someone must have fired it.” “Of course,” said Pepperill. “I may as well tell you,” continued Mr. Fielding, “that Mr. Bramber, the schoolmaster, came to the Cellars the evening of the fire”’ “The deuce he did!” “Just after dusk.” “And what brought him here, the puppy?” “He came,” answered Mr. Fielding, “because he wished to see Kitty and you.” “Pray what did he want with Kitty?” “Surely, Mr. Pepperill, you know that the two young people have come to an understanding.” Pasco shrugged his shoulders. “I may have heard something of the sort, but I have other things more important to interest and occupy my mind. I gave it no heed.” “Well, he desired to speak with you, as her father was away, and you stood in a semi-parental relation to her, living as she did in your house.” “Well, he found no one here,” observed Pasco, with some uneasiness of manner. “As he approached the Cellars he heard an altercation, and then the house door violently slammed. Then, thinking the occasion unpropitious, he turned back.” “It was fancy. No one was here. My wife was over the water, and I on my way to Brimpts. If you doubt my word, ask Mr. Ash, he receipted my bill, and I had a talk as well with the landlord.” “That is true, Mr. Pepperill, but Jason Quarm was here. I saw him drive past my gate, and I cast a good-even to him. If an altercation took place here, he was probably one of those engaged in it. I took it for granted that you were the other.” “I’I’I?” stuttered Pasco. “Yes, because you returned to the Cellars after you had got to the head of the hill.” “Who said that? It is a lie!” “Kitty, I understand, said as much to John Pooke.” “Kitty said it?” “Kitty told Jan and Rose as she was being driven home from the moor’so I have been informed.” “It’s a lie!” roared Pasco, glaring round at the girl with a curl up of his thick lips, showing his teeth like a dog about to bite. “It’s a ’–– lie!” “Mr. Pepperill!” said the rector, rising in dignified anger from the seat that had been accorded him, “I will not suffer you to use such an expression in my presence, even in your own house. You do not add one jot to the force of your repudiation’to your charge against Kate’by burdening it with an oath.”