"Neighbours at a distance of a mile--and who do no more than nod to each other," answered Neale. "Lord Ellersdeane and Mr. Horbury were what you might call friends, but I don't believe his lordship ever spoke ten words with either of the Chestermarkes until this morning. I tell you the Chestermarkes are regular hermits!--when they're at home or about Scarnham, anyhow. Now let's go as far as the Tower--you can see all over the country from that point." Betty followed her guide down a narrow path which led in and out through the undulations of the Hollow until it reached the foot of the promontory on which stood the old ruin that made such a prominent landmark. Seen at close quarters Ellersdeane Tower was a place of much greater size and proportion than it had appeared from the edge of the wood, and the path to its base was steep and rocky. And here the loneliness in which she and Neale had so far walked came to an end--on the edge of the promontory, outlined against the moonlit sky, two men stood, talking in low tones. CHAPTER VII THE TRAVELLING TINKER Neale's eye caught the gleam of silver braid on the clothing of one of the two men, and he hastened his steps a little as he and Betty emerged on the level ground at the top of the steep path. "That's a policeman," he said. "It'll be the constable from Ellersdeane. The other man looks like a gamekeeper. Let's see if they've heard anything." The two figures turned at the sound of footsteps, and came slowly in Neale's direction. Both recognized him and touched their hats. "I suppose you're looking round in search of anything about Mr. Horbury?" suggested Neale. "Heard any news or found any trace?" "Well, we're what you might call taking a preliminary observation, Mr. Neale," answered the policeman. "His lordship's sent men out all over the neighbourhood. No, we've heard nothing, nor seen anything, either. But, then, there's not much chance of hearing anything hereabouts. The others have gone round asking at houses, and such-like--to find out if he was seen to pass anywhere. Of course, his lordship was figuring on the chance that Mr. Horbury might have had a fit, or something of that sort, and fallen somewhere along this path, between the town and Ellersdeane House--it's not much followed, this path. But we've seen nothing--up to now." Neale turned to the keeper. "Were none of your people about here on Saturday night?" he asked. "You've a good many watchers on the estate, haven't you?" "Yes, sir--a dozen or more," answered the keeper. "But we don't come this way--this isn't our land. Our beats lie the other way--t'other side of the village. We never come on to this part at all."