At a few minutes after four he returned, and Grooton brought us some tea.

Directly we were alone Ray looked across at me with a black frown upon his face.
"You know what they are saying in the village about you, young man ?" "I can guess," I answered.
"Who is this girl, Blanche Moyat ?" "A farmer's daughter," I answered.

"It seems that I paid her too much or too little, attention, I am not sure which.

At any rate, she has an imaginary grievance against me, and this is the result." "She tells the truth ?" "I have not heard her story," I answered, "but it is true that I encouraged her to suppress the fact that she bad seen the man in the village, and that he had asked for me." "What folly!" "Perhaps," I answered.

"You see, I thought that a verdict of 'found drowned' would save trouble." "This accursed woman at the Grange is in it, I know," Ray remarked, slowly filling his pipe.