The farm was half a mile away, across the park; and this order meant that for another hour at least he must be an outsider in the drama.
"Appleby," said Mr Rimbolt, when that jaunty youth appeared, "take Benbow, and ride as quickly as you can, to the police-office at Overstone.

Tell the inspector with my compliments, to meet me with three constables at Rodnet Bridge at six o'clock, that is, in three hours.

Come back as quickly as you can, and have the dog-cart at the door at five." "Now," said he to Jeffreys, when these various matters of business had been put in train, "we may as well occupy our time by getting something to eat, supper and breakfast in one--I dare say you are hungry." As Jeffreys had scarcely eaten anything for three days--in fact, since his visit to Grangerham--he could honestly admit being ready for a meal.
"I'm afraid we must forage for ourselves, unless some one is about," said Mr Rimbolt, leading the way to the pantry.
It was a curious spectacle that of the millionaire and the tramp together investigating the contents of the pantry shelves and lockers, lifting up dish-covers here, and critically testing the consistency of pie-crusts there.

They made a fairly good selection of the good things which came nearest to hand, and retiring with them to the adjacent kitchen, accomplished a meal more luxurious to Jeffreys' mind than any he had tasted since he left Bolsover.
This done, to his great satisfaction they adjourned once more to the library, where, while Mr Rimbolt took a brief nap, he regaled himself with the luxury of a prowl among the bookshelves, by the light of the dawning day.

So absorbed was he in this occupation that he did not hear the sound of the dog-cart at the front door, or heed Mr Rimbolt's first summons to start.
"You're fond of books, surely," said that gentleman, as the two got up into the trap and drove off, with Appleby perched behind.
"I love them," said Jeffreys, in the same tone of sincerity which had attracted the York bookseller.
"You're a reader, then ?" "I would be if I had the chance," said Jeffreys.
"You are thinking of my library," said Mr Rimbolt; "but it doesn't follow, you know, that having a house full of books makes a reader.