the others, made his way by a circuitous route to this kitchen garden,
which after the fashion of modern places was hidden behind a belt of
trees nearly a quarter of a mile from the house. Here he wandered about
till presently he heard Barbara's pleasant voice behind him saying:

"Don't dawdle so, we shall be late for church."

So they started, somewhat furtively like runaway children. As they went
Alan asked how her uncle was.

"All right now," she answered, "but he has had a bad shake. It was
that Yellow God story which did it. I know, for I was there when he
was coming to, with Sir Robert. He kept talking about it in a confused
manner, saying that it was swimming to him across the floor, till at
last Sir Robert bent over him and told him to be quiet quite sternly.
Do you know, Alan, I believe that your pet fetish has been manifesting
itself in some unpleasant fashion up there in the office?"

"Indeed. If so, it must be since I left, for I never heard of anything
of the sort, nor are Aylward and your uncle likely people to see ghosts.
In fact Sir Robert wished to give me about £17,000 for the thing only
the day before yesterday, which doesn't look as though it had been
frightening him."

"Well, he won't repeat the offer, Alan, for I heard him promise my uncle
only this morning that it should be sent back to Yarleys at once. But
why did he want to buy it for such a lot of money? Tell me quickly,
Alan, I am dying to hear the whole story."

So he began and told her, omitting nothing, while she listened eagerly