CHAPTER III.





On the next morning Colonel Willoughby plied the landlord with a few
more questions about Captain Allen, and then, inquiring the
direction of his house, started out, as he said, to take a ramble
through the town. He did not come back until near dinner time, and
then he showed no disposition to encourage familiarity on the part
of Mr. Adams. But that individual was not in the dark touching the
morning whereabouts of his friend. A familiar of his, stimulated by
certain good things which the landlord knew when and how to
dispense, had tracked the stranger from the "White Swan" to Captain
Allen's house. After walking around it, on the outside of the
enclosure once or twice, and viewing it on all sides, he had
ventured, at last, through the gate, and up to the front door of the
stately mansion. A servant admitted him, and the landlord's familiar
loitered around for nearly three hours before he came out. Mrs.
Allen accompanied him to the door, and stood and talked with him
earnestly for some time in the portico. They shook hands in parting,
and Colonel Willoughby retired with a firm, slow step, and his eyes
bent downwards as if his thoughts were sober, if not oppressive.

All this Mr. Adams knew; and of course, his curiosity was pitched to
a high key. But, it was all in vain that he threw himself in the way