The tall figure reared itself upright, and he heard the voice distinctly now.
"I must be going--I must be going.

Miriam will be asking questions.
That hag is the plague of my life.

All safe--all safe.

And now I will depart." The tall figure put on its stooping gait, which appeared to be second nature, and went slouching away through the underwood along the narrow track.

Cuthbert waited till there had been a long spell of perfect silence, and then he glided with cat-like caution to the ground.
"I may not be able to see anything by this light, not even the glint of gold beneath the clear waters.