Then, at last, the second letter reached him.

Colonel Osborne and Mr.Bozzle had each of them spent the day in the neighbourhood of Lessboro', not exactly in each other's company, but very near to each other.

"The Colonel" had ordered a gig, on the day after his arrival at Lessboro', for the village of Cockchaffington; and, for all Mr.Bozzle knew, the Colonel had gone to Cockchaffington.

Mr.Bozzle was ultimately inclined to think that the Colonel had really spent his day in going to Cockchaffington.

Mr.Bozzle himself, knowing the wiles of such men as Colonel Osborne, and thinking at first that that journey to Cockchaffington might only be a deep ruse, had walked over to Nuncombe Putney.