"Whilst you are staying here, Mr. Salton, you must look on the grounds ofDiana's Grove as your own, so that you may come and go just as you do inLesser Hill. There are some fine views, and not a few naturalcuriosities which are sure to interest you, if you are a student ofnatural history--specially of an earlier kind, when the world wasyounger."
The heartiness with which she spoke, and the warmth of her words--not ofher manner, which was cold and distant--made him suspicious. In themeantime both his uncle and Sir Nathaniel had thanked her for theinvitation--of which, however, they said they were unable to availthemselves. Adam had a suspicion that, though she answered regretfully,she was in reality relieved. When he had got into the carriage with thetwo old men, and they had driven off, he was not surprised when SirNathaniel spoke.
"I could not but feel that she was glad to be rid of us. She can playher game better alone!"
"What is her game?" asked Adam unthinkingly.
"All the county knows it, my boy. Caswall is a very rich man. Herhusband was rich when she married him--or seemed to be. When hecommitted suicide, it was found that he had nothing left, and the estatewas mortgaged up to the hilt. Her only hope is in a rich marriage. Isuppose I need not draw any conclusion; you can do that as well as Ican."
Adam remained silent nearly all the time they were travelling through thealleged Vale of Cheshire. He thought much during that journey and cameto several conclusions, though his lips were unmoved. One of theseconclusions was that he would be very careful about paying any attentionto Lady Arabella. He was himself a rich man, how rich not even his unclehad the least idea, and would have been surprised had he known.
The remainder of the journey was uneventful, and upon arrival atLiverpool they went aboard the _West African_, which had just come to thelanding-stage. There his uncle introduced himself to Mr. Caswall, andfollowed this up by introducing Sir Nathaniel and then Adam. The new-comer received them graciously, and said what a pleasure it was to becoming home after so long an absence of his family from their old seat.Adam was pleased at the warmth of the reception; but he could not avoid afeeling of repugnance at the man's face. He was trying hard to overcomethis when a diversion was caused by the arrival of Lady Arabella. Thediversion was welcome to all; the two Saltons and Sir Nathaniel wereshocked at Caswall's face--so hard, so ruthless, so selfish, so dominant."God help any," was the common thought, "who is under the domination ofsuch a man!"
Presently his African servant approached him, and at once their thoughtschanged to a larger toleration. Caswall looked indeed a savage--but acultured savage. In him were traces of the softening civilisation ofages--of some of the higher instincts and education of man, no matter howrudimentary these might be. But the face of Oolanga, as his mastercalled him, was unreformed, unsoftened savage, and inherent in it wereall the hideous possibilities of a lost, devil-ridden child of the forestand the swamp--the lowest of all created things that could be regarded asi
n some form ostensibly human. Lady Arabella and Oolanga arrived almostsimultaneously, and Adam was surprised to notice what effect theirappearance had on each other. The woman seemed as if she would not--couldnot--condescend to exhibit any concern or interest in such a creature. Onthe other hand, the negro's bearing was such as in itself to justify herpride. He treated her not merely as a slave treats his master, but as aworshipper would treat a deity. He knelt before her with his hands out-stretched and his forehead in the dust. So long as she remained he didnot move; it was only when she went over to Caswall that he relaxed hisattitude of devotion and stood by respectfully.
Adam spoke to his own man, Davenport, who was standing by, having arrivedwith the bailiff of Lesser Hill, who had followed Mr. Salton in a ponytrap. As he spoke, he pointed to an attentive ship's steward, andpresently the two men were conversing.
"I think we ought to be moving," Mr. Salton said to Adam. "I have somethings to do in Liverpool, and I am sure that both Mr. Caswall and LadyArabella would like to get under weigh for Castra Regis."
"I too, sir, would like to do something," replied Adam. "I want to findout where Ross, the animal merchant, lives--I want to take a small animalhome with me, if you don't mind. He is only a little thing, and will beno trouble."
"Of course not, my boy. What kind of animal is it that you want?"
"A mongoose."
"A mongoose! What on earth do you want it for?"
"To kill snakes."
"Good!" The old man remembered the mound of stones. No explanation wasneeded.
When Ross heard what was wanted, he asked:
"Do you want something special, or will an ordinary mongoose do?"
"Well, of course I want a good one. But I see no need for anythingspecial. It is for ordinary use."
"I can let you have a choice of ordinary ones. I only asked, because Ihave in stock a very special one which I got lately from Nepaul. He hasa record of his own. He killed a king cobra that had been seen in theRajah's garden. But I don't suppose we have any snakes of the kind inthis cold climate--I daresay an ordinary one will do."
When Adam got back to the carriage, carefully carrying the box with themongoose, Sir Nathaniel said: "Hullo! what have you got there?"
"A mongoose."
"What for?"
"To kill snakes!"
Sir Nathaniel laughed.
"I heard Lady Arabella's invitation to you to come to Diana's Grove."
"Well, what on earth has that got to do with it?"
"Nothing directly that I know of. But we shall see." Adam waited, andthe old man went on: "Have you by any chance heard the other name whichwas given long ago to that place."
"No, sir."