Some feeling caused him to
turn from the man whilst he gave his evidence, a thing easily done in the
crowded room.
It appeared that amidst the stirring excitement in the neighbourhood on
the Tuesday night when the death became known, this stranger happened to
avow in the public-house which he made his quarters that he had seen Lord
Hartledon in his skiff just before the event must have happened. The
information was reported, and the man received a summons to appear before
the coroner.
And it may be as well to remark now, that his second appearance was owing
to a little cowardice on his own part. He had felt perfectly satisfied at
the time with the promise given him by Lord Hartledon to see the debt
paid--given also in the presence of the Rector--and took his departure in
the train, just as Pike had subsequently told Mr. Elster. But ere he had
gone two stages on his journey, he began to think he might have been too
precipitate, and to ask himself whether his employers would not tell him
so when he appeared before them, unbacked by any guarantee from Lord
Hartledon; for this, by a strange oversight, he had omitted to ask for.
He halted at once, and went back by the next return train. The following
day, Tuesday, he spent looking after Lord Hartledon, but, as it happened,
did not meet him.
The man--a dissipated young man, now that his hat was off--came forward
in his long coat, his red hair and whiskers.
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