"I don't think I'll stay to drink," I said, thinking of the man's statement about his wife's sister. "Of course I'll pay for it," I added, noting the look of chagrin on his face. "You be a rail gen'leman," he remarked, as I threw down a guinea. "Have you been away from the house to-day?" I asked. "No, sur." "Have you noticed a party on horseback ride by this afternoon?" "What time would it be, sur?" "About four o'clock, I should imagine." "No, sur, there ain't no party of no sort gone long 'ere." "You are quite sure?" "Iss, sur. Be you lookin' out for a party, sur?" "Yes," I replied, "but I must have been misinformed." "How many was in the party, sur?" "Why?" "Well, Bill Bennetto, Maaster Veryan's hind, was over here little while ago, and he zaid as ow 'ee'd zeed a party of five ride through St. Eval. Ther' wos three gentlemen and two laadies, sur. They wos ridin' 'ard for Padstow, 'ee zaid." "What time was this?" "'Bout fower a clock, sur. Praps that was the lot you was wantin'." "How far is it from here to Padstow." "Oa ten or twelve mile, I shud think." "A straight road?" "Aw, iss, you can't miss et." Glad to get out of the house infected with small-pox, I contented myself with this information, and a few seconds later I was on Chestnut's back again, riding northward. I had gone only a short distance, however, when I came to a junction of roads. Here a difficulty presented itself, for I knew not which way to take. "What did the fellow mean by telling me it was a straight road?" I grumbled angrily, and then it struck me suddenly that he seemed very anxious for me to leave his house. I looked eagerly around me in the hope of getting out of my difficulty, but it was a lonely place, and no houses were in sight. Presently, however, I saw a light shining, and making my way towards it, discovered a cottage. "Which is the way to Padstow?" I asked of a man who held a lantern in his hand, and who evidently lived at the cottage. "Dunnaw, sur, I be sure. I speck the best way will be for 'ee to go to Little Petherick and inquire." "Is it a straight road?" "Lor bless 'ee, sur, no. 'Tes as crooked as a dog's hind leg." I wondered at this, and asked the man if he knew the landlord of the Farmer's Rest. "Aw, iss I do knaw un, sur." "What kind of a man is he?" "A littlish man, with a long neck like a gander, and sharp eyes like a rat." "Yes, I know, but is he a respectable man!" "Iss, 'ee've saved a braavish bit of money. I do 'ear as how 'ee've got vour hundred in Tura Bank." "His wife's sister has small-pox, hasn't she?" "What do 'ee main, sur?" I repeated my question. "Why, bless 'ee, sur, his wife aan't got no sister. She's Jenny Johnses onnly darter. As fur small-pox, I never 'eerd tell o' noan."