The
answer came back that the African had not been seen since the previous
evening. Caswall was now so irritable that even this small thing upset him. As he
was distrait and wanted to talk to somebody, he sent for Simon Chester,
who came at once, breathless with hurrying and upset by the unexpected
summons. Caswall bade him sit down, and when the old man was in a less
uneasy frame of mind, he again asked him if he had ever seen what was in
Mesmer's chest or heard it spoken about. Chester admitted that he had once, in the time of "the then Mr. Edgar,"
seen the chest open, which, knowing something of its history and guessing
more, so upset him that he had fainted. When he recovered, the chest was
closed. From that time the then Mr. Edgar had never spoken about it
again. When Caswall asked him to describe what he had seen when the chest was
open, he got very agitated, and, despite all his efforts to remain calm,
he suddenly went off into a faint. Caswall summoned servants, who
applied the usual remedies. Still the old man did not recover. After
the lapse of a considerable time, the doctor who had been summoned made
his appearance. A glance was sufficient for him to make up his mind. Still, he knelt down by the old man, and made a careful examination. Then
he rose to his feet, and in a hushed voice said:

"I grieve to say, sir, that he has passed away." CHAPTER XV--ON THE TRACK


Those who had seen Edgar Caswall familiarly since his arrival, and had
already estimated his cold-blooded nature at something of its true value,
were surprised that he took so to heart the death of old Chester. The
fact was that not one of them had guessed correctly at his character. They thought, naturally enough, that the concern which he felt was that
of a master for a faithful old servant of his family. They little
thought that it was merely the selfish expression of his disappointment,
that he had thus lost the only remaining clue to an interesting piece of
family history--one which was now and would be for ever wrapped in
mystery. Caswall knew enough about the life of his ancestor in Paris to
wish to know more fully and more thoroughly all that had been. The
period covered by that ancestor's life in Paris was one inviting every
form of curiosity. Lady Arabella, who had her own game to play, saw in the _metier_ of
sympathetic friend, a series of meetings with the man she wanted to
secure. She made the first use of the opportunity the day after old
Chester's death; indeed, as soon as the news had filtered in through the
back door of Diana's Grove. At that meeting, she played her part so well
that even Caswall's cold nature was impressed. Oolanga was the only one who did not credit her with at least some sense
of fine feeling in the matter. In emotional, as in other matters,
Oolanga was distinctly a utilitarian, and as he could not understand
anyone feeling grief except for his own suffering, pain, or for the loss
of money, he could not understand anyone simulating such an emotion
except for show intended to deceive. He thought that she had come to
Castra Regis again for the opportunity of stealing something, and was
determined that on this occasion the chance of pressing his advantage
over her should not pass. He felt, therefore, that the occasion was one
for extra carefulness in the watching of all that went on. Ever since he
had come to the conclusion that Lady Arabella was trying to steal the
treasure-chest, he suspected nearly everyone of the same design, and made
it a point to watch all suspicious persons and places. As Adam was
engaged on his own researches regarding Lady Arabella, it was only
natural that there should be some crossing of each other's tracks. This
is what did actually happen. Adam had gone for an early morning survey of the place in which he was
interested, taking with him the mongoose in its box. He arrived at the
gate of Diana's Grove just as Lady Arabella was preparing to set out for
Castra Regis on what she considered her mission of comfort. Seeing Adam
from her window going through the shadows of the trees round the gate,
she thought that he must be engaged on some purpose similar to her own. So, quickly making her toilet, she quietly left the house, and, taking
advantage of every shadow and substance which could hide her, followed
him on his walk. Oolanga, the experienced tracker, followed her, but succeeded in hiding
his movements better than she did. He saw that Adam had on his shoulder
a mysterious box, which he took to contain something valuable. Seeing
that Lady Arabella was secretly following Adam, he was confirmed in this
idea. His mind--such as it was--was fixed on her trying to steal, and he
credited her at once with making use of this new opportunity. In his walk, Adam went into the grounds of Castra Regis, and Oolanga saw
her follow him with great secrecy. He feared to go closer, as now on
both sides of him were enemies who might make discovery. When he
realised that Lady Arabella was bound for the Castle, he devoted himself
to following her with singleness of purpose. He therefore missed seeing
that Adam branched off the track and returned to the high road. That night Edgar Caswall had slept badly. The tragic occurrence of the
day was on his mind, and he kept waking and thinking of it. After an
early breakfast, he sat at the open window watching the kite and thinking
of many things. From his room he could see all round the neighbourhood,
but the two places that interested him most were Mercy Farm and Diana's
Grove. At first the movements about those spots were of a humble
kind--those that belong to domestic service or agricultural needs--the
opening of doors and windows, the sweeping and brushing, and generally
the restoration of habitual order. From his high window--whose height made it a screen from the observation
of others--he saw the chain of watchers move into his own grounds, and
then presently break up--Adam Salton going one way, and Lady Arabella,
followed by the nigger, another. Then Oolanga disappeared amongst the
trees; but Caswall could see that he was still watching. Lady Arabella,
after looking around her, slipped in by the open door, and he could, of
course, see her no longer. Presently, however, he heard a light tap at his door, then the door
opened slowly, and he could see the flash of Lady Arabella's white dress
through the opening. CHAPTER XVI--A VISIT OF SYMPATHY


Caswall was genuinely surprised when he saw Lady Arabella, though he need
not have been, after what had already occurred in the same way. The look
of surprise on his face was so much greater than Lady Arabella had
expected--though she thought she was prepared to meet anything that might
occur--that she stood still, in sheer amazement. Cold-blooded as she was
and ready for all social emergencies, she was nonplussed how to go on. She was plucky, however, and began to speak at once, although she had not
the slightest idea what she was going to say.