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For a longat the other,

Barnabas still seated in the ditch and thebefore him,

with the coins clutched in his hand

"Ah!" said Barnabas, at last, "then you were in the wood?"

"I lay hidden behind a bush, and watched you do it, sir"

"And ere you doing in Annersley Wood?"

"I bore a e, sir, for the lady"

"Ah!" said Barnabas, "the lady--yes"

"Who lay watching you, also"

"No," said Barnabas, "the lady was unconscious"

"Yet recovered sufficiently to adjust her habit, and to watch you

knock him down"

"Hum!" said Barnabas, and was silent a while "Have you heard such a

name as Chichester?" he inquired suddenly

"No, sir"

"And did you deliver the letter?"

"I did, sir"

"And she--sent back an answer?"

"Yes, sir"

"The gentleman who sent the letter was tall and slender, I think,

with dark hair, and a scar on his cheek?"

"Yes, sir"

"And when you came back with her answer, he met you down the lane

yonder, and I heard you say that the lady had no time to write"

"Yes, sir; but she promised to meet him at a place called Oakshott's

Barn"

"Ah!" said Barnabas, "I think I know it"