He rode rapidly down to the village, and dismounted at the door of Simpkins' office. It was shut. Meldon knocked loudly several times, but received no answer. He mounted his bicycle again and rode off at high speed to Simpkins' house. Here the door was opened to him by the red-haired servant. "I want to see Mr. Simpkins at once," said Meldon. "It'll fail you to do that," said the girl, "for he isn't within." "Tell me this, now," said Meldon. "Aren't you a cousin of Sabina Gallagher's?" "I am, of course." "Very well. I'm a friend of Sabina's. I'm the chief, if not the only friend Sabina has in Ballymoy, I daresay she's told you that herself." "She has not then; for I didn't see her this last week only the once." "Well, you must take my word for it that I am. Now, recollecting that fact, I expect you to show a proper family feeling and to treat the friends of your near relations as if they were your own. Is Mr. Simpkins really out, or is he simply in bed and ashamed to confess it?" "He is not in bed. Nor he wasn't in it since nine o'clock this morning. It's away off he is ever since he had his breakfast; and if you don't believe what I'm telling you, you can go upstairs and see for yourself." "I do believe you," said Meldon. "Where has he gone to?" "How would I know? Barring that he took a packet of sandwiches with him, I don't know where he is no more than yourself." "Sandwiches! That looks as if he won't be back for luncheon." "He will not then, for he told me so." "Did he go on his bicycle?" "It could be that he did, for it's not within in the house." "Then we may assume that he did," said Meldon, "and it follows from that that he intended to go some distance. Now tell me this, what direction did he start in?" "How would I know? As soon as ever I had the sandwiches made for him I went to feed the fowl, and by reason of the way the white hen has of rambling and her chickens along with her--" "Thanks," said Meldon. "If it wasn't that I have to find Mr. Simpkins at once, I'd stay and hear about the white hen. But under the circumstances I can't. Good-bye." He rode down to the hotel and found Doyle, who was sitting on the window-sill of the commercial room reading a newspaper. "Doyle," he said, "where's Simpkins gone?" "I don't know," said Doyle, "that he's gone anywhere; though I'd be glad if he did, and that to a good, far-off kind of a place." "Did you see him this morning?" "I did. I seen him. It might have been half-past ten or maybe eleven o'clock--" "On his bicycle?" "He was on his bicycle." "Where was he going?" "I don't know where he was going, for I didn't ask, not caring; unless it might be to some place that he wouldn't get back from too easy." "It is of the utmost possible importance," said Meldon, "that I should know where he's gone. I am pledged to produce him at Ballymoy House this afternoon. Unless I do, our whole plan for getting rid of him is likely to miscarry."