The man whom Nell and Falconer had mistaken for Dick passed through the
lodge gates, and, turning to the right, walked quickly, but not
hurriedly, beside the high park fencing, and presently came up with a
dogcart which was being walked slowly along the road.
The cart was a very shabby one, but the horse was a very good one, and
looked as if it could stretch itself if it were required to do so. In
the cart was a young man in clerical attire. He looked like a curate,
and his voice had the regulation drawl as he leaned down and asked: "Well, Ted?"
The man addressed as Ted shook his head.
"The girl was right," he said, with an air of disappointment. "She's got
'em all on."
"Then it's no use trying it to-night," said the curate. "Perhaps a
little later? It must be darkish for some time."
Ted shook his head again.
"No use! Too risky. It will be hours before they all go to bed and the
house is quiet; the servants always keep it up after a big affair like
this; some of 'em won't go to bed at all, perhaps. Besides, I was
spotted just now."
The Parson, as he was called by the burgling fraternity, of which he and
Ted were distinguished members, swore under his breath.
"How was that?" he asked.
"I was looking in at one of the windows of the servants' quarters,
getting a word or two with the girl, when a couple of the swells came
along. They saw me, and mistook me for some one by the name of Dick, and
called to me. I walked off as quickly as I could, and I swear they
didn't see my face, neither then nor just now, when, as luck would have
it, they caught sight of me going out of the gates. They went into the
lodge with the young fellow they'd mistaken me for."
The Parson swore again.
"What's to be done? Did you see the things?"
Ted nodded emphatically.
"Yes! They're the best swag I've ever seen. There's a fortune in them;
and, if we had any luck, we might get a few more in addition."
"They'll be in the bank to-morrow," said the Parson gloomily. "These
swells know how to take care of their jewelry, especially when they're
family diamonds like these. We've lost our chance for the present, Ted.
Jump up."
But Ted shook his head.
"Not yet. The girl promised to meet me if she could, and I reckon she'll
try to." He smiled and smoothed his mustache. "You drive on slowly and
wait for me at the turn of the road. I'll come to you, say, in a quarter
of an hour."