A saddled horse was tethered in the court-yard, and the outer door was open. In the hall stood Mr Perrot with a penny note-book and a stumpy pencil in his hand. He looked up as he heard my step, and greeted me with his usual heartiness.
"This is a surprise, Mr Perrot," I said. "I didn't expect to find you here. I was looking for Tarn."
"Afraid you won't find him, sir. They all cleared out yesterday morning. I've bought this place."
"House and land, furniture and stock, everything except the dog and their clothes. It's a little speculation of mine, and looks like being a very good speculation too. I knew you were going to have the dog--he told me he meant him as a present to you, and according to Tarn I could never have done anything with him. Truculent--too truculent."
"I didn't know he was leaving. How did it come about?"
"Oh, he came round one morning three weeks ago, and asked me if I'd buy his place. I said I'd buy that or anything else if the price were right. And it was right enough because it was my own price; I came and went over everything and said what I'd give, and he never haggled. I paid my ten per cent. next day, and completed at the lawyer's in Helmstone afternoon before last."
"He was. What's more, we had a bottle of champagne wine at the Armada afterwards at his expense, and he drove me back to Sandene in his car."
"Only had it two months, he said. It's a bigger one than yours, sir, and I expect he'll lose money on it. For he told me he shouldn't take it over to France with him, and they're bad things to sell. Yes, I felt like one of the gentlefolk that afternoon--drinking champagne wine and sitting in a motor-car. He must be a warmer man than ever I supposed."
"Well, he was quiet, and yet he was a bit excited, if you know what I mean. He'd new clothes on--oh, quite the thing. It's my belief that he's come into money unexpected, and that he and the two niggers--the wife and baby--are off on a jaunt together."
I did not share Perrot's belief, but I said nothing.
"In France they're not too particular, so I'm told," said Perrot. "I daresay niggers go down better there than they do here."
"Did you see the woman and her baby when you were here?"
"No, they weren't shown, and I didn't ask for them. I don't think they were in the house when I came, for I went into each room. But they must have come in by another way before I left, for I heard them in the next room to us. What's more, the baby was laughing and the woman was sobbing."