It happened that he had not met him during these few days of his sojourn; but some of the men staying at Hartledon had, and had said what a loose specimen he appeared to be.

The other was a stranger, and did not look like a countryman at all.
Mr.Elster saw them both give a sharp look at him as he approached; and then they spoke together.

Both stepped off the bridge, as though deferring to him, and stood aside as they watched him cross over, Pike touching his wide-awake.
"Good-day, my lord." Val nodded by way of answer, and continued his stroll onwards.

In the look he had taken at Pike, it struck him he had seen the face before: something in the countenance seemed familiar to his memory.

And to his surprise he saw that the man was young.
The supposed reminiscence did not trouble him: he was too pre-occupied with thoughts of his own affairs to have leisure for Mr.Pike's.