For a moment I hesitated, and then I followed her.

She went down the path and round the stables, and, so far, I saw nothing strange in her actions; but when she had in this way gained the rear of the west wing, she took a track through the thicket to the east of the house again, and so came back to the garden.

This gained, she came up the path and went in through the parlour door, and disappeared--alter making a clear circuit of the house, and not once pausing or looking to right or left! I confess I was fairly baffled.

I sank back on the seat I had left, and said to myself that this was the lamest of all conclusions.

I was sure that she had exchanged no word with anyone.