But I'm on the track of something, I
don't mind admitting; something pretty surprising too, if it's the right
track. Possibly I may be able to tell you more to-night. Could you come
out this evening with me if I needed you?"
"Rather!"
"Well," he said, moving towards the door, "any time after dark I may look
in--if this leads to anything."
"Even if it doesn't, look in and put me out of suspense, like a good
fellow-'tec,' Mr. Bolton."
He smiled again. Evidently he was decidedly pleased with himself
this morning.
"All right, Mr. Merton. I'll do that much for you."
Just before I opened the door for him I had one last shot.
"Won't you even give me a hint, Mr. Bolton?"
He looked at me for a moment, and then said in a low voice (for we were
near the door),
"There's some one in this island who hasn't lived in it all their
life--not by any means. I've found that out."
He nodded significantly at me, but his lips closed tight again and I saw
there was no more to be got out of him, so I wished him luck and returned
to my chair to think.
Whether excitement at the prospect of actually reaching the crisis of
this adventure that very night, or chagrin at seeing the problem which
had eluded me solved straight off by this great drover of a fellow was my
uppermost feeling, I should be afraid to say.
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