is no open wound. I’ll loosen it for you.” He pulled off the plaster that held the bandage on, and unwound the cotton. The discoloration was visible through her silk stocking. It looked as if she had a red cabbage stuffed down her leg.
“Forget the Winchester stage and the diamonds for the moment, Maisie. We shall stop at the first signs of civilization and look for a doctor,” I said. Sir Edmund nodded his agreement.
We were not very far from a village called Testley. We pulled in at the inn there, hired a room and sent off for the local doctor. While awaiting him, we made her as comfortable as possible by propping her sore ankle up on a footstool, opening windows, getting wine and so on. Before long the doctor entered, a bald little man with glasses and a speckled skull.
He did not immediately see Maisie, reclining in the corner, and mistook me for the patient, as I wore the patch on my temple. “What seems to be the trouble, young lady?” he asked with abominable cheer. “A migraine, I wager.”
“No, my aunt has a wrenched ankle,” I informed him, pointing out her chair.
Sir Edmund and I went to the other side of the largish chamber to await his verdict. “You should have him take a look at your bruise while he is here,” he suggested.
“Nature is the best healer. The less I have doctors tampering with me, the better I like it. I shall get some headache drops from him before he leaves though.”
“Is it bothering you?” he asked, with a little show of concern.
“Of course it is. You do not sustain such a blow without suffering.”
“That would account for your irritable temper. I fear what I am about to say will exacerbate it.”
“Don’t say it then,” I advised, but he spoke on. “Has it occurred to you this fellow with the walleye that we are chasing is wending his way very close to Fareham?”
“Yes, and I am very happy for it. He is not taking us much out of our way. After we have overtaken him, we can go along to Fareham, will be practically there. Maisie and I can go on, I mean.”
“You see no significance in the coincidence?”
“I do not see that Weston put him up to stealing it, if that is the meaning of your questions.”
“Your aunt does not share your good opinion of him.”
“My aunt and I often disagree as to what constitutes a pleasing character. She is only unhappy that he married Mrs. Cummings. My family does not harbor any criminals, Sir Edmund. Weston will be horrified when he hears what has happened to us.”
“Very well, if you say so. I felt obliged to mention it. Forgive me if I have offended you.”
“That is quite all right. I am under no illusion as to who put this idea in your head.”
“I have another suggestion which will be more pleasing than my last,” he continued. “I recommend you remain here with your aunt, while I go on and meet the stage at Winchester, have the thief arrested and return your necklace to you.”
“You would not recognize my necklace to see it,” I answered, finding him totally wrong in his opinion that I would like this second suggestion. I was disappointed to see our adventure be cut off so abruptly.
“It is not likely the man will have more than one set of diamonds in his pocket.”
“His profession is stealing. Heaven only knows how many he has picked up by now.”
“Surely not more than one dating back to the reign of Queen Elizabeth,” he countered. “I really ought to be getting on for Winchester.”
“My aunt is looking very chipper,” I pointed out. “She will be ready to travel.” She was revived enough to be joking with the doctor.
“She is a game old girl, is she not?” he answered, smiling toward the corner.
“Up to all the rigs. It would be a shame to deprive her of the chase.” He drew out his watch. I knew what was on his mind, but hoped to divert his attention till the doctor was through with Maisie.
“You are ruing your brother’s fate again, are you? He would be off on his
“Forget the Winchester stage and the diamonds for the moment, Maisie. We shall stop at the first signs of civilization and look for a doctor,” I said. Sir Edmund nodded his agreement.
We were not very far from a village called Testley. We pulled in at the inn there, hired a room and sent off for the local doctor. While awaiting him, we made her as comfortable as possible by propping her sore ankle up on a footstool, opening windows, getting wine and so on. Before long the doctor entered, a bald little man with glasses and a speckled skull.
He did not immediately see Maisie, reclining in the corner, and mistook me for the patient, as I wore the patch on my temple. “What seems to be the trouble, young lady?” he asked with abominable cheer. “A migraine, I wager.”
“No, my aunt has a wrenched ankle,” I informed him, pointing out her chair.
Sir Edmund and I went to the other side of the largish chamber to await his verdict. “You should have him take a look at your bruise while he is here,” he suggested.
“Nature is the best healer. The less I have doctors tampering with me, the better I like it. I shall get some headache drops from him before he leaves though.”
“Is it bothering you?” he asked, with a little show of concern.
“Of course it is. You do not sustain such a blow without suffering.”
“That would account for your irritable temper. I fear what I am about to say will exacerbate it.”
“Don’t say it then,” I advised, but he spoke on. “Has it occurred to you this fellow with the walleye that we are chasing is wending his way very close to Fareham?”
“Yes, and I am very happy for it. He is not taking us much out of our way. After we have overtaken him, we can go along to Fareham, will be practically there. Maisie and I can go on, I mean.”
“You see no significance in the coincidence?”
“I do not see that Weston put him up to stealing it, if that is the meaning of your questions.”
“Your aunt does not share your good opinion of him.”
“My aunt and I often disagree as to what constitutes a pleasing character. She is only unhappy that he married Mrs. Cummings. My family does not harbor any criminals, Sir Edmund. Weston will be horrified when he hears what has happened to us.”
“Very well, if you say so. I felt obliged to mention it. Forgive me if I have offended you.”
“That is quite all right. I am under no illusion as to who put this idea in your head.”
“I have another suggestion which will be more pleasing than my last,” he continued. “I recommend you remain here with your aunt, while I go on and meet the stage at Winchester, have the thief arrested and return your necklace to you.”
“You would not recognize my necklace to see it,” I answered, finding him totally wrong in his opinion that I would like this second suggestion. I was disappointed to see our adventure be cut off so abruptly.
“It is not likely the man will have more than one set of diamonds in his pocket.”
“His profession is stealing. Heaven only knows how many he has picked up by now.”
“Surely not more than one dating back to the reign of Queen Elizabeth,” he countered. “I really ought to be getting on for Winchester.”
“My aunt is looking very chipper,” I pointed out. “She will be ready to travel.” She was revived enough to be joking with the doctor.
“She is a game old girl, is she not?” he answered, smiling toward the corner.
“Up to all the rigs. It would be a shame to deprive her of the chase.” He drew out his watch. I knew what was on his mind, but hoped to divert his attention till the doctor was through with Maisie.
“You are ruing your brother’s fate again, are you? He would be off on his
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