heard any stranger's name mentioned in connection with the affair, or
with Afy."

"Thorn chose by-roads, and he never came, save that once, but at dusk
and dark. It was evident to me at the time that he was striving to do it
on the secret. I told Afy so, and that it augured no good for her. You
are not attaching credit to what I say, and it is only as I expected;
nevertheless, I swear that I have related the facts. As surely as that
we--I, Thorn, Afy and Hallijohn, must one day meet together before our
Maker, I have told you the truth."

The words were solemn, their tone earnest, and Mr. Carlyle remained
silent, his thoughts full.

"To what end, else, should I say this?" went on Richard. "It can do
me no service; all the assertion I could put forth would not go a jot
toward clearing me."

"No, it would not," assented Mr. Carlyle. "If ever you are cleared, it
must be by proofs. But--I will keep my thought on the matter, and should
anything arise----What sort of a man was this Thorn?"

"In age he might be three or four and twenty, tall and slender; an
out-and-out aristocrat."

"And his connections? Where did he live?"

"I never knew. Afy, in her boasting way, would say he had come from
Swainson, a ten mile ride."