"It came to me that she likely took a short cut across these grounds, and that in doing so she fell in with Sir Gilbert--or with you--and was kept, lest she should let out what she'd seen.

That's the plain truth, Mr.Hollins." He was keeping his eyes on me just as steadily as he kept the revolver, and I saw from the look in them that he believed me.
"Aye!" he said.

"I see you can draw conclusions, if it comes to it.
But--did you keep that idea of yours strictly to yourself, now ?" "Absolutely!" I repeated.
"You didn't mention it to a soul ?" he asked searchingly.
"Not to a soul!" said I."There isn't man, woman, or child knows I'm here." I thought he might have dropped the muzzle of the revolver at that, but he still kept it in a line with my nose and made no sign of relaxing his vigilance.

But, as he was silent for the moment, I let out a question at him.
"It'll do you no harm to tell me the truth, Mr.Hollins," I said.

"Do you know anything about Miss Dunlop?
Is she safe?
You've maybe had a young lady yourself one time or another--you'll understand what I'm feeling about it ?" He nodded solemnly at that and in quite a friendly way.
"Aye!" he answered.