surprise seemed mingled with a certain incredulity. "It don't
seem possible, but for sure, then, he don't come from these here
parts, that I'll stand to."

"I knew that much before," retorted Mr. John. "I said all the time
they were outsiders, a London gang very likely. You'll have to get
Dr. Rawson, Bates. I don't know what's up, but I've a beast of a
pain in my side. I can hardly breathe."

Bates murmured respectful sympathy as they came out of the shelter
of the trees, and crossing some open ground, reached a road along
the further side of which ran a high brick wall.

In this, nearly opposite the spot where they emerged on the road,
was a small door which one of the men opened and through which they
passed and locked it behind them, leaving Dunn without.

He hesitated for a moment, half-minded to scale the wall and
continue on the other side of it to follow them.

Calculating the direction in which the village of Ramsdon must lie,
he turned that way and had gone only a short distance when he was
overtaken by a pedestrian with whom he began conversation by asking
for a light for his pipe.

The man seemed inclined to be conversational, and after a few casual
remarks, Dunn made an observation on the length of the wall they
were passing and to the end of which they had just come.

"Must be a goodish-sized place in there," he said. "Whose is it?"