I did not tell Mortimer why I was interested in Laura Lyons, but
secretly I am determined to go to Coombe Tracey tomorrow morning
to see her. When Mortimer pressed me to discover my reasons for
asking about her, I rather cleverly switched the subject to her
father's skull, and asked the Doctor to what type it belonged, and
so heard nothing but craniology for the rest of our drive.
Mortimer stayed to dinner, and he & the baronet played ecarte
afterwards.
Barrymore brought my coffee into the library, and I took the chance
to ask him a few questions. He had not heard of his precious relation
for three days, though he had left food out for him since then. The
food had not been taken, said Barrymore, but perhaps by the other
man who was upon the moor. I was at once alert, and asked what
