"Nay, there's a time for such apparitions, and that's not noonday," said Tregenna.
"Come at what time you please, sir, and satisfy yourself by ear and eye."
"You mean that?"
"Faith, sir, I do."
And she turned her back upon him again, and crouched once more over the fire, swaying backwards and forwards, with her hand to her swollen face.
Tregenna saw that she was in pain, and made allowance for her irritation. He retreated to the other end of the long apartment, and awaited the return of the soldiers, who were now engaged in making an exhaustive search of the premises.
Not much to his surprise, they presently returned to the front of the porch, while the brigadier re-entered the room, hot, flushed, and in a very bad temper.
They had hunted in every corner of the house, of the outbuildings, of the barns, but not a man was to be found.
They took a very cold leave of the old farmer's wife, and of the farmer himself, who came respectfully to the door to see them off. He
