All that's certain--unless he's a sensible man, and tells what he was doing with himself between eight and ten o'clock last night." "Ah, and why doesn't he ?" said Bent.

"He must have some good reason.

I wonder if his daughter can persuade him ?" "Isn't that his daughter coming towards us ?" inquired Brereton.
Bent glanced along the road and saw Avice Harborough at a little distance, hastening in their direction and talking earnestly to a middle-aged man who was evidently listening with grave concern to what she said.
"Yes, that's she," he replied, "and that's Northrop with her--the man that Mallalieu was playing cards with last night.

She's governess to Northrop's two younger children--I expect she's heard about her father, and has been to get Northrop to come down with her--he's a magistrate." Avice listened with ill-concealed impatience while Bent delivered his message.

He twice repeated Harborough's injunction that she was not to be afraid, and her impatience increased.
"I'm not afraid," she answered.