"Every one, and the cemetery, too," answered Saltire. "There's not a place inside or out of the farm-buildings we haven't been over--except Saxby's bungalow, and he's hardly likely to be there."
"He was there this afternoon," said Christine slowly. It seemed to her time to let them into the truth.
Both men halted in amazement. Such a thing as any one but Mrs. van Cannan going to Saxby's was unknown. Briefly she recounted the incidents of the afternoon. The men's verdict was the same as hers had been.
"Infamous! After that, we will certainly visit Saxby's," decided Saltire. "But, first, Miss Chaine must go home."
"No, no; let me come," she begged. "It is not far. I _must_ know."
So, in the end, she got her way, and they all approached the bungalow together. It was in utter darkness, and the men had to rap loud and long before any response came from within. At last Saxby's voice was heard inquiring who the deuce, and what the deuce, etc., etc., at that time of the night--followed by his appearance in the doorway with a candle.
"We want to come in and look for Roddy," said Saltire briefly, and, without further ado, pushed the burly man aside and entered, followed by McNeil. Christine, too, entered, and sat down inside the door. She was very exhausted. Saxby appeared too flabbergasted to move for a moment. Then he remonstrated with considerable heat.
"What do you mean by this? You don't seem to know that you are in my house!"
But the other two had already passed through the empty sitting-room to the one beyond, and were casting lantern-gleams from side to side, examining everything.
"You must be crazy to think the boy is here," Saxby blustered, as they re-emerged. They paid not the slightest attention to him, but continued their search into the kitchen, the only other room of the house.
"No," said Saltire, very quietly, as he came back into the room and set the light on the table; "the boy is not here. But where is Mrs. Saxby?"
Saxby's face had grown rather pallid, but his jaw was set in a dogged fashion.
"That is _my_ business," he said harshly.
It was Saltire whose face and manner had become subtly agreeable.
"Oh, no, Saxby; it is all of our business at present. What I find so strange is that nowhere in the house is there any sign or token that a woman lives here, or has ever lived here. It seems to me that needs a little explaining."