It was oblong, with a high roof, and excellently fitted up, something
after the style of a cabin at sea, that is, with a due regard to
economy of space. The arched roof and deal walls were painted yellow.
From the former dangled various articles of merchandise, such as Kind
sold, and the latter were decorated with pictures cut from various
papers, and pasted on the wood in every available corner. At one end
was a door divided into two pieces, so that the upper or lower half
could be opened at will. Facing this, and placed sideways was the bed,
or rather the bunk, in which Rachel was sleeping. It was comfortable
enough, and gay with red curtains. Against one wall was the leaf of a
table fastened with iron rods, and the other wall supported a cupboard
in which food was stored. Two hooks immediately above the heads of the
trio, and near the door, showed that Kind slung a hammock for his own
sleeping accommodation. The whole place was clean and neat, and Browne
thought that many people were worse housed than these imitation
gipsies. They followed the example of the Tartar tribes, and in their
wheeled dwelling moved about from place to place, at home everywhere,
and picking up their living in all quarters.
"But," said Browne, thoughtfully sipping his whisky, "if anyone enters
the caravan, Herries will be discovered."
"We can hide him," said Kind, cunningly.
"Where?" asked the doctor, staring round the confined space. "I don't
see any hiding-place."
"Nor does anyone else, or it wouldn't be a hiding-place. But we can
trust you, doctor, and----" Kind stooped and gave a hard twist to one
of the iron rods which supported the side table. At once the floor of
the vehicle parted in the middle, and displayed an oblong, shallow
space where a man, with some discomfort, could lie at full length. "I
had that made," added the Cheap-jack, "after my own design. I haven't
been in the detective force for nothing, and thought that it wouldn't
be a bad idea to have a place where I could hide things from thieves.
All my best goods were stowed there, but I shifted them when Mr.
Herries came. While he was being hunted for, far and wide, he was
lying there as snug as a pig."
"Very ingenious," said Browne, while Kind closed the hiding-place in
the same manner in which he had opened it, "but I don't know how
Herries did come here?"
"Elspeth saved me, bless her," said the young man, his blue eyes
lighting up. "When she heard how ill Mrs. Kind was, and Trent refused
to let me see her, even under escort, she came out and interviewed my
friend here," he indicated the Cheap-jack, "and said that she would
bring me. Then she returned to the inn, and went up to my room to----"
"She didn't see you," interposed Browne, recalling the policeman's
account of Elspeth weeping at his feet for admission.