At last he came quite near, and Austin moved as though to let him pass.
"Don't trouble yourself, young gentleman," said the newcomer, in a good-humoured, offhand way.

"Can you tell me whether I'm anywhere near a place called Moorcombe Court ?" "Yes--it's not far off," replied Austin, immediately interested.

"I've just come from there myself." "Really, now!" was the gentleman's rejoinder.

"And how's me friend St Aubyn ?" So he was Mr St Aubyn's friend--or claimed to be.

"I really suspected," said Austin to himself, "that he must be a bailiff." From which it may be inferred that the youth's acquaintance with bailiffs was somewhat limited.