"About being able to buy it," said Mr. May, a little testily. It was
with great difficulty he preserved his man-to-man openness and
brightness.
"They aren't here," said the constable.
"Oh indeed! Where _are_ they? And _who_ are they?"
The policeman eyed him more suspiciously than ever.
"Cowlard's their name. An' they live in Offerton when they aren't
travelling."
"Cowlard--thank you." Mr. May took out his pocket-book.
"C-o-w-l-a-r-d--is that right? And the address, please?"
"I dunno th' street. But you can find out from the Three Bells.
That's Missis' sister."
"The Three Bells--thank you. Offerton did you say?"
"Yes."
"Offerton!--where's that?"
"About eight mile."
"Really--and how do you get there?"
"You can walk--or go by train."
"Oh, there is a station?"
"Station!" The policeman looked at him as if he were either a
criminal or a fool.
"Yes. There _is_ a station there?"
"Ay--biggest next to Chesterfield--"
Suddenly it dawned on Mr. May.
"Oh-h!" he said. "You mean _Alfreton_--"
"Alfreton, yes." The policeman was now convinced the man was a
wrong-'un. But fortunately he was not a pushing constable, he did
not want to rise in the police-scale: thought himself safest at the
bottom.
"And which is the way to the station here?" asked Mr. May.
"Do yer want Pinxon or Bull'ill?"
"Pinxon or Bull'ill?"
"There's two," said the policeman.
"For Selverhay?" asked Mr. May.
"Yes, them's the two."
"And which is the best?"
"Depends what trains is runnin'. Sometimes yer have to wait an hour
or two--"
"You don't know the trains, do you--?"
"There's one in th' afternoon--but I don't know if it'd be gone by
the time you get down."
"To where?"
"Bull'ill."
"Oh Bull'ill! Well, perhaps I'll try. Could you tell me the way?"
When, after an hour's painful walk, Mr. May came to Bullwell Station
and found there was no train till six in the evening, he felt he
was earning every penny he would ever get from Mr. Houghton.
The first intelligence which Miss Pinnegar and Alvina gathered of
the coming adventure was given them when James announced that he had
let the shop to Marsden, the grocer next door. Marsden had agreed to
take over James's premises at the same rent as that of the premises
he already occupied, and moreover to do all alterations and put in
all fixtures himself. This was a grand scoop for James: not a penny
was it going to cost him, and the rent was clear profit.
"But when?" cried Miss Pinnegar.
"He takes possession on the first of October."
"Well--it's a good idea. The shop isn't worth while," said Miss
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