The adulteress

"He'll be pleased, poor love. He's so excited you came to visit. I do what I can to amuse him ..." I almost steeled myself for the nudge which was fortunately impossible because once more the table separated us, "but you know what it is. He's tired sometimes... . Sometimes wanders in his mind a bit."

I wasn't sure of that and had a notion she was safeguarding herself in some way.

However, at eleven I was sitting at Uncle Carl's bedside and I managed to let drop the information that I would explore the town that afternoon.

"It's a good half an hour's walk," said Jessie. "Would you like them to take you in the carriage?"

"No," I said quickly. I did not want any of the grooms reporting to her where I had been. "I would like to explore myself. It's a voyage of remembrance for me. It's like rediscovering my childhood."

"Well, we want you to do just as you like ... don't we, Lordy?"

Uncle Carl pressed my hand understanding that that afternoon I should pay a call on the lawyers.

I felt I did not have to wait to see Jessie safely in the manager's house for her afternoon rendezvous, but set out soon after one o'clock to walk into the town.

The road passed close to Enderby and I don't think I was altogether surprised to come face to face with Gerard d'Aubigne. In fact I had an idea that he had been watching for me.

He was as elegant in daylight as in twilight and he looked very much the same as he had last night except that his coat was of brown velvet but still in the swinging almost flaunting style which gave an impression of a charming aggressiveness.

He bowed and said: "I'll confess I have waylaid you."

"Oh ... why?"

"Overcome by an urgent desire to see my charming ghost by the light of day. I had a horrible feeling that I might have imagined the encounter."

"Even trespassing on our lawns?" I asked.

"What is a little trespass for a good cause? I had to see that you were safely home. Now where do you wish to go?"

"Actually I am on an errand for my uncle and am going into the town."

"It is quite a long way."

"Nothing much ... half an hour's walk."

"I have an idea. My hosts have been so good to me. They have a most elegant little carriage ... suitable for two or at most three including the driver. Two horses pull it along at a spanking pace. I suggest that I drive you into the town."

"That's kind of you but it really isn't necessary."

"Pleasant experiences do not have to be necessary. I should be desolate if you denied me this. I have used the carriage once or twice. It is an enchanting little vehicle. Come into the stables here and I will make it ready. We can be in the town in less than half the time that it would take to walk and you will arrive fresh for your business."

I hesitated and he immediately placed his arm through mine and drew me toward the house.

The mystery of Enderby seemed to envelop me—or was it his presence? I had never felt quite like this before ... this excitement, this feeling that something very unusual was going to happen to me.

Enderby looked gloomy even in afternoon sunshine. There was no one in the stables and I was amazed by the deftness with which he made the carriage ready.

The two bay mares pawed the ground as though impatient to be off. He patted first one and then the other.

"Yes, old girls," he said, "you know this is a special occasion, don't you?"

Then he turned to me and helped me into the carriage, himself taking the driver's seat.

Side by side we rattled along at a good speed. I sat back feeling as though I were in a dream, listening to the clop clop of the mares' hooves and putting a wary hand on the papers in my pocket to make sure that they were still there.

We pulled up at an inn and there we alighted. He asked me where I had to go and when I told him said he would take me there, leave me, and if I would come to the inn when I had finished my business he would drive me back to Eversleigh.

I agreed to this and, leaving the inn, walked along the main street until we came to the offices of Messrs. Rosen, Stead and Rosen.

An elderly clerk rose to greet me, and when I told him that I came on behalf of Lord Eversleigh and wished to see Mr. Rosen I immediately aroused his interest and was conducted into the reception room. He was sorry to say that Mr. Rosen senior was out of the office for a few days—away on urgent business, but he was sure either Mr. Stead or young Mr. Rosen would be able to help me.

Young Mr. Rosen—who seemed anything but young to me, being a man in his middle forties—came in to greet me and when I explained why I had come, he took me into his private office and glanced at the instructions Uncle Carl had given me. He nodded. "I understand," he said. "My father will be upset at not being here to meet you. He deals with all Lord Eversleigh's business; but this seems to be a straightforward matter of the will so it will present no problems. I will call on him myself," he went on. "I can bring one of the clerks with me to witness it. What is the best time?"