He felt as if he had a terrible secret on his mind, and that there was great danger that something or other would occur to discover it.

So he hoped that Forester would have forgotten the appointment, and that it would be thus postponed to some future time.
But Forester had not forgotten it; and after dinner, he asked Marco how soon he should be ready to go.

Marco said that he should be ready at any time; and in about half an hour they set out.

They walked together to the mill-pond.

Forester said that the boat belonged to a man who worked in the mills, but he lived a little distance above them.