It needed only this confirmation of all that Stacy had hinted, of what he himself had seen in his brief interview with Mrs.Barker since his return, to shake his last remaining faith.

"We'll all go together, then," he said, with a laugh, "as in the old times, and perhaps it's as well that we have no woman in our confidence." An hour later the three men passed quietly out of the hotel, scarcely noticed by the other guests, who were also oblivious of their absence during the evening.

For Mrs.Barker, quite recovered from her fatiguing ride, was in high spirits and the most beautiful and spotless of summer gowns, and was considered quite a heroine by the other ladies as she dwelt upon the terrible heat of her return journey.

"Only I knew Mr.
Barker would be worried--and the poor man actually walked a mile down the Divide road to meet me--I believe I should have stayed there all day." She glanced round the other groups for Mrs.Horncastle, but that lady had retired early.

Possibly she alone had noticed the absence of the two partners.
The guests sat up until quite late, for the heat seemed to grow still more oppressive, and the strange smell of burning wood revived the gossip about Mrs.Van Loo and her stupidity in setting fire to her chimney.