Promising to call upon him at his lodgings De Stancy went indoors, and Dare briskly retraced his steps to Markton.
When his footfall had died away, and the door of the house opposite had been closed, another man appeared upon the scene.

He came gently out of the hedge opposite Myrtle Villa, which he paused to regard for a moment.
But instead of going townward, he turned his back upon the distant sprinkle of lights, and did not check his walk till he reached the lodge of Stancy Castle.
Here he pulled the wooden acorn beside the arch, and when the porter appeared his light revealed the pedestrian's countenance to be scathed, as by lightning.
'I beg your pardon, Mr.Power,' said the porter with sudden deference as he opened the wicket.

'But we wasn't expecting anybody to-night, as there is nobody at home, and the servants on board wages; and that's why I was so long a-coming.' 'No matter, no matter,' said Abner Power.

'I have returned on sudden business, and have not come to stay longer than to-night.

Your mistress is not with me.