Ravensdene Court

ick forget his beef and his rum. Indeed, although he was only half-way through its contents, he pushed his plate away from him as if food were just then nauseous to him; his right

t my ears ain't deceiving me! You met a man-hereabouts-what asked you if you knew where there was gr

d from Quick to me and then to Claigue, and smiled

. "That's just what I did say. A stranger chap

There was no doubt about his bein

here?" he dema

. Did I know these parts?-was I a native hereabouts?-did I know any churchyards with the name Netherfield on gravestones? And I said I didn't, but that there was such-like places in our parts where you couldn't see the graves

informant, signifying that he was to be served at his expense. He was evidently deep in thought by that time, and for a moment o

this here man

the build of him, a strong-set man, like myself, and just about your height. And now I come to think of it,

rd of his being ab

informant. "He went Denwick way whe

turned

re." He spread the map out before him, and after taking another gulp of his rum, proceeded to trace roads and places with the point of h

part of two men to find the graves of the Netherfields might mean. And the landlord ev

-humoured inquisitiveness. "And so, apparently, does another man. Now, I've been in t

o' that name in these parts-'twixt Alnmouth

e landlord. "Born and bred and b

her north than Belford, south than Warkworth, west than Whittingham. And as f

u can't," said Claigue. "No-we ain't

the map, returned it to me with a word of thanks, and plunging

o a glass and a cigar." He flung a sovereign on the table, and rose to his feet. "I must be

and handed over his change; silently, too, he pocketed it, and turned to

ney of yours over readily hereabouts-in places like this, I mean. There's folk

assented Jim. "Keep

slipped a hand to his hip pocket, brought

ignificantly. "Bad look-out for anybo

ted Claigue. "Take care of yourself! 'Tisn't a wi

n I had paid Claigue for my modest lunch, and had asked how far it was to Ravensdene Court,

this apparently mysterious man. "What

downwards almost as if he expected to unearth something; suddenly he ra

leman, I can see, and such keeps counsel. I've an object-and a particular object!-in finding them graves. That's why I've travelled all this way-as

idea who he ma

d then suddenly

hat maybe I did know, or, at any rate, had a notion; but it's a fact, I haven't. All the same, I'm goin

ong the headlands. Well-I hope you'll be succes

d, very

d 'em!" he asserted determinedly. "It's what I've

went steadily forward without even looking back, or to the right or left of him. And presently

an would travel all the way from Devonshire to Northumberland to find the graves of his mother's ancestors. There was something beyond that-but what? It was very certain that Quick wanted to come across the tombs of the dead and gone Netherfields, however, for whatever purpose-certain, too, that there was another man who had the same wish. That complicate

most of the compelling silence, and only dimly aware of the calling of the sea-birds on the cliffs. Altogether, the afternoon was drawing to its close when, rounding a bluff that had been in view before me for some time, I came in sight of what I felt sure to be Ravensdene Court, a grey-walled, stone-roofed Tudor mansion that stood at the head of a narrow valley or ravine-dene they call it in thos

of whom Mr. Raven had spoken in his letter, was studying the lie of a golf ball. Behind her, carrying her bag of sticks, stood a small boy, chiefly remarkable for his large boots and huge tam-o'-shanter bonnet, who, as I appeared on the scene, was intently watching his young mistress's putter, wavering uncertainly in her slender hands before she ventured on what was evidently a critical stroke. But before the stroke was made the girl caug

along the cliffs. Your luggage came this morning, and we got your message. But you mu

d. "I came along very leisurely, enjoying th

I've had quite enough; besides, it's getting towards dusk, and once the sun se

e hundred yards before us. "It seems to be a very romantically-situated

y-set, well-developed ones-a l

last month. It's all that you say-picturesque and

d with a laugh. "I hope I shall hav

I shan't. The house is odd enough with

sked, looking mo

There's a very odd atmosphere about it. I think something must have happened

rms!" I interrupted. "Eve

f-inquiringly, and t

'll see. But you don't look as if you would be afraid-an

should be?" I asked,

e Mr. Cazalette," she replied. "Booky, and papery, and tha

s have settled on me," I re

ted. "No!-you're a surprise. I'm sure Uncle Francis

I said. "But I never told him I was

"People don't expect to find such learni

oung man, then?" I

said hastily. "You can call me a ver

always calling things by their right names, and I can see alr

d with a laugh. "Very well-I've no objection, which

, old-fashioned, grizzled moustache and whiskers; the sort of man that I had seen more than once coming off big liners at Tilbury and Southampton, looking as if England, seen again af

"A very dull and out-of-the-way place to which to bring one used to London; but we'll do our best

ming an intentionally old-fashioned manner. "If I am treated with the same cons

," said my guide. "I've found that out already. He'

looked from his niece to me, and laughed, shaking his head. "These modern y

cient things, mysterious nooks and corners; my own rooms, a bed-chamber and a parlour, were delightful. My host was almost painfully anxious to assure himsel

haps there'll be time to take a little look round before then, after we've dressed. And I must introduc

I had taken a look at its multifarious objects before Mr. Raven appeared on the scene, followed by Mr. Cazalette. One glance at this gentleman assured me that our host had