Mr. Carteret was examined. He could tell no more than he had already
told. They started together, but he had soon got beyond his lordship,
and had never seen him again alive. There was nothing more to be gleaned
or gathered. Not the smallest suspicion of foul play, or of its being
anything but a most unfortunate accident, was entertained for a moment by
any one who heard the evidence, and the verdict of the jury was to that
effect: Accidental Death.
As the crowd pressed out of the inquest-room, jostling one another in the
gloom of the evening, and went their several ways, Lord Hartledon found
himself close to Gorton, his coat flapping as he walked. The man was
looking round for Pike: but Mr. Pike, the instant his forced evidence was
given, had slunk away from the gaze of his fellow-men to ensconce himself
in his solitary shed. To all appearance Lord Hartledon had overtaken
Gorton by accident: the man turned aside in obedience to a signal, and
halted. They could not see much of each other's faces in the twilight.
"I wish to ask you a question," said Percival in low, impressive, and not
unkindly tones. "Did you speak with my brother, Lord Hartledon, at all on
Tuesday?"
"No, my lord, I did not," was the ready answer. "I was trying to get to
see his lordship, but did not."
"What did you want with him? What brought you back to Calne?"
"I wanted to get from him a guarantee for--for what your lordship knows
of; which he had omitted to give, and I had not thought to ask for,"
civilly replied the man.
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