 him the mug. "You keep that one," he
added.

The stout man drew another pint, and subsiding on to his stool with a
little sigh, disposed himself for conversation.

"Taking a country walk?" he inquired.

The cook nodded. "Not all pleasure," he said importantly; "I'm on
business."

"Ah, it's you fellows what make all the money," said the landlord. "I've
only drawn these two pints this morning. Going far?"

"Holebourne," said the other.

"Know anybody there?" asked the landlord.

"Well, not exactly," said the cook; "I carn't say as I know 'im. I'm
after a party o' the name o' Dunn."

"You won't get much out of him," said the landlady, who had just joined
them. "He's a close un, he is."

The cook closed his eyes and smiled knowingly.

"There's a mystery about that man," said the landlady. "Nobody knows who
he is or what he is, and he won't tell 'em. When a man's like that you
generally know there's something wrong--leastways I do."

"Insulting, he is," said the landlord.

"Ah," said the cook, "'e won't insult me!"

"You know something about him?" said the landlady.

"A little," said the cook.

The landlord reached over to his wife, who bent her ear readily and
dutifully towards him, and the cook distinctly caught the whispered word
"'tec."

The landlady, after a curious glance at the cook, withdrew to serve a
couple of wagoners who had drawn up at the door. Conversation became
general, and it was evident that the wagoners shared the sentiments of
the landlord and his wife with regard to Mr. Dunn. They regarded the
cook with awe, and after proffering him a pint with respectful timidity,
offered to give him a lift to Holebourne.

"I'd sooner go on my own," said the cook, with a glance at the wagons;
"I want to get in the place quiet like and 'ave a look round before I do
anythin'."

He sat there for some time resting, and evading as best he could the
skilful questions of the landlady. The wagons moved off first, jolting
and creaking their way to Holebourne, and the cook, after making a
modest luncheon of bread and che