"He went away in broad daylight?" asked James. "It was getting dark--about five maybe. I was sorry for him, and I would have let him in to see Miss Alice, he seemed so disappointed." "Ah, Sarah, it's a pity you didn't let him in." "But, Mr. James, you can a-bear tramps." "Or ghosts," added the cook, fearfully. "It were no tramp and no spectre," said the coachman. "I see it all." He looked solemnly round the company. "This was Mr. Bernard come to see if Miss Alice will help him. He's alive, God be praised!" "Amen," said the cook, bowing her head as though in church. "And if he comes again, we will let him in and say nothing to the police." "I should not," said Sarah; "he looked so sad and pale. Oh dear me! and such a fine, handsome young gentleman he was, to be sure." "We will swear to be silent," said James, solemnly, "seeing as we are all sure Mr. Bernard never killed old Sir Simon." "I'd never believe it if a jury told me," said the cook. "Young Jerry, swear to be silent." "Oh! I'm fly, Mr. James," said Jerry, easily; "but who is Mr. Bernard? and why did he kill Sir Simon?" "He didn't, and he's the present baronet at the Hall, young Jerry. You don't chatter or I'll thrash you within an inch of your life." "Oh, he won't talk," said the good-natured cook. "He's an angel." Sarah snorted. She was not so impressed with Jerry's angelic qualities as the rest of the company. However, Jerry, who had his own reasons to retire, slipped away unostentatiously and read Victoria's letter for the second time. Then he talked to himself in a whisper. "He's alive after all," he said, "and he's stopping at that castle. I daresay the old girl"--he thus profanely described his mistress--"went over to there to see him with Miss Alice. And they brought him back, dropping him on the way so that he could get into the house quietly. He knows my whistle. No one but him could know it, as he heard me on that night. What's to be done? I'll go out and have a look round. He may come back again."