THE OLD HUNTSMAN'S STORY. 133 



and send his hunting things to the Stapleton Arms in the 

 dog-cart, where he will dress.' 



" ' Then his valet did not go ? ' 



" ' No.' 



" * Who drove him ? ' 



" ' Lamming.' 



" ' Oh ! By the Avay, that reminds me, I Avant to see 

 Lamming. Will he be gone to bed?' 



" ' No. He's just had his supper and gone to look at the 

 horses again.' 



" ' Well, good-night. I'm sorry Mr. Onslow is away ; but 

 I shall see him on Mondav, as we meet at Becklinoton 

 station. 



" ' If Lamming drove him, Tom.' I remarked as we went 

 round to the stables, 'we shall learn nothing. He's one of 

 the biggest scamps unhung, and sure to be well paid to keep 

 his mouth shut.' 



"Nor did we. Lamming stoutly averred that he drove 

 Mr. Onslow direct to Bentley, that he picked up no one by the 

 way, and that his master caught the London train with five 

 minutes to spare. 



" ' That man's lying, I'U swear,' said Tom between his 

 teeth, as sorrowfully we drove homewards ; and I need not 

 tell you that we all, my wife, Jim (who was up at the Hall 

 when we started) and I, spent a most miserable night. 



" The next day I told Sir John, who was most kind and 

 promised to do his best for me ; but, after all, what could he 

 do ? On Monday we met at Becklington Station, and there, 

 sure enough, was Mr. Onslow and Lamming, with his two 

 horses, Parker having driven the dog-cart there with his 

 master's clothes. With so little to go on, what could I say 

 to the man, especially as later on he came up to me and 

 said he had heard of my trouble, and that he would be glad 

 to do anything he could to help to trace the girl ? " 



