"He has evidently seen hard service," remarked the stranger, and in
a voice that showed him to be suppressing, as best he could, all
signs of interest in the landlord's communication.

"There's no mistake about that; and if you could only see him, my
word for it, you would fall into the common belief that blood lies
upon his conscience."

"I shall certainly put myself in the way of seeing him, after the
spur you have just given to my curiosity," said Col. Willoughby, in
a decided manner, as if he had an interest in the man beyond what
the landlord's communication had excited.

"Then you will have to remain here something more than a week, I'm
thinking," replied the landlord.

"Why so?"

"Captain Allen isn't at home."

There was a sudden change in the stranger's face that did not escape
the landlord's notice. But whether it indicated pleasure or
disappointment, he could not tell; for it was at best a very
equivocal expression.

"Not at home!" His voice indicated surprise.

"No, sir."

"How long has he been absent?"