第57章

That’sagoodgirl!NowyoushallhearhowIproposetosearchforthispoorlady，andhowyourlittlestoryhashelpedme。“

Hepaused，consideringwithhimselfwhetherheshouldbeginbytellingBlancheofhisconsultationwithGeoffrey。Oncemore，hedecidedthatquestioninthenegative。Bettertostilldefertakingherintohisconfidenceuntilhehadperformedtheerrandofinvestigationonwhichhewasnowsettingforth。

“Whatyouhavetoldme，Blanche，dividesitself，inmymind，intotwoheads，“beganSirPatrick。“Thereiswhathappenedinthelibrarybeforeyourowneyes；andthereiswhatMissSilvestertoldyouhadhappenedattheinn。Astotheeventinthelibrary(inthefirstplace)，itistoolatenowtoinquirewhetherthatfainting-fitwastheresult，asyousay，ofmereexhaustion——orwhetheritwastheresultofsomethingthatoccurredwhileyouwereoutoftheroom。“

“WhatcouldhavehappenedwhileIwasoutoftheroom？“

“Iknownomorethanyoudo，mydear。Itissimplyoneofthepossibilitiesinthecase，and，assuch，Inoticeit。Togetontowhatpracticallyconcernsus；ifMissSilvesterisindelicatehealthitisimpossiblethatshecouldget，unassisted，toanygreatdistancefromWindygates。Shemayhavetakenrefugeinoneofthecottagesinourimmediateneighborhood。Orshemayhavemetwithsomepassingvehiclefromoneofthefarmsonitswaytothestation，andmayhaveaskedthepersondrivingtogiveheraseatinit。Orshemayhavewalkedasfarasshecan，andmayhavestoppedtorestinsomeshelteredplace，amongthelanestothesouthofthishouse。“

“I’llinquireatthecottages，uncle，whileyouaregone。“

“Mydearchild，theremustbeadozencottages，atleast，withinacircleofonemilefromWindygates!Yourinquirieswouldprobablyoccupyyouforthewholeafternoon。Iwon’taskwhatLadyLundiewouldthinkofyourbeingawayallthattimebyyourself。Iwillonlyremindyouoftwothings。Youwouldbemakingapublicmatterofaninvestigationwhichitisessentialtopursueasprivatelyaspossible；and，evenifyouhappenedtohitontherightcottageyourinquirieswouldbecompletelybaffled，andyouwoulddiscovernothing。“

“Whynot？“

“IknowtheScottishpeasantbetterthanyoudo，Blanche。Inhisintelligenceandhissenseofself-respectheisaverydifferentbeingfromtheEnglishpeasant。Hewouldreceiveyoucivilly，becauseyouareayounglady；buthewouldletyousee，atthesametime，thatheconsideredyouhadtakenadvantageofthedifferencebetweenyourpositionandhispositiontocommitanintrusion。AndifMissSilvesterhadappealed，inconfidence，tohishospitality，andifhehadgrantedit，nopoweronearthwouldinducehimtotellanypersonlivingthatshewasunderhisroof——withoutherexpresspermission。“

“But，uncle，ifit’sofnousemakinginquiriesofanybody，howarewetofindher？“

“Idon’tsaythatnobodywillanswerourinquiries，mydear——I

onlysaythepeasantrywon’tanswerthem，ifyourfriendhastrustedherselftotheirprotection。Thewaytofindheristolookon，beyondwhatMissSilvestermaybedoing