"I'll have a stroll down the road with you, if you have no objection.
Have a manilla." He drew a couple of cheroots from his pocket and
handed one to me. "You'll find they are not bad," he said. "I became
a connoisseur in tobacco when I was in India. I hope I am not
interfering with your business in coming along with you?"
"Not at all," I answered "I am very glad to have your company."
"I'll tell you a secret," said my companion. "This is the first time
that I have been outside the grounds since we have been down here."
"And your sister?"
"She has never been out, either," he answered. "I have given the
governor the slip to-day, but he wouldn't half like it if he knew. It's
a whim of his that we should keep ourselves entirely to ourselves. At
least, some people would call it a whim, for my own part I have reason
to believe that he has solid grounds for all that he does--though
perhaps in this matter he may be a little too exacting."
"You must surely find it very lonely," said I. "Couldn't you manage to
slip down at times and have a smoke with me? That house over yonder is
Branksome."
"Indeed, you are very kind," he answered, with sparkling eyes. "I
should dearly like to run over now and again. With the exception of
Israel Stakes, our old coachman and gardener, I have not a soul that I
can speak to."
"And your sister--she must feel it even more," said I, thinking in my
heart that my new acquaintance made rather too much of his own troubles
and too little of those of his companion.
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