"P'r'aps he's gone off to the car with the sack--in a fright, like,
thinking we'll guess that!" whispered Neddy.
Mike did not much think so, though he would much have liked to. But
he received the suggestion kindly. "We might as well have a look; we
can come back afterwards if--if we like. Perhaps that big brute'll
have gone."
"The thing as I want to do most is to wring that Sergeant's neck!"
Their whispers were checked by a new development. The cottage door opened
for a moment and then closed again; they could tell that, both by the
sound and by the momentary ray of light. Yet a light persisted after the
door was shut. It came from a candle, which burnt steadily in the
stillness of the night. It was carried by a woman, who came down the path
towards where Beaumaroy and the Captain stood in conversation. Both
turned towards her with eager attention.
"Now's our time, then! They aren't looking our way now. We can get
across the heath to where the car is."
They moved off very softly, keeping the Tower between them and the group
on the path. They gained the back of the house, and so the open heath,
and made off to their destination.
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