Evan was not among them.

He had gone, as the Countess said aloud, on a diplomatic mission to Fallow field, with Andrew Cogglesby.

The truth being that he had finally taken Andrew into his confidence concerning the letter, the annuity, and the bond.

Upon which occasion Andrew had burst into a laugh, and said he could lay his hand on the writer of the letter.
'Trust Old Tom for plots, Van! He'll blow you up in a twinkling, the cunning old dog! He pretends to be hard--he 's as soft as I am, if it wasn't for his crotchets.

We'll hand him back the cash, and that's ended.