IT was not until the evening of the third day after the dastardly plot to lure Martha Jopling to London had been matured at the Woodman’s Rest in Dene Hollow that Tinker met Pym again. During the intervening time the baronet’s son had been much occupied in completing his arrangements to leave Ministerfield for a short time. In an interview he had with Norah Lacey he renewed all his protestations of love for her, and informed her that business of an urgent nature called him to London. To be separated from her, even for a brief period, he vowed and declared, made him very unhappy, and he bemoaned the nature of the business that forced him to go. However, he declared that he would not remain away a single instant longer than he was compelled to do, and he uttered a fervent hope, indeed a pray
