ResolvingtogoatoncetoKnowlesburyonfoot，Iledthewayoutofthevestry。
`Thankyoukindly，sir，’saidtheclerk，asIslippedmylittlepresentintohishand。`AreyoureallygoingtowalkallthewaytoKnowlesburyandback？Well！you’restrongonyourlegs，too——andwhatablessingthatis，isn’tit？There’stheroad，youcan’tmissit。IwishIwasgoingyourway——it’spleasanttomeetwithgentlemenfromLondoninalostcornerlikethis。Onehearsthenews。Wishyougoodmorning，sir，andthankyoukindlyoncemore。’
Weparted。AsIleftthechurchbehindmeIlookedback，andtherewerethetwomenagainontheroadbelow，withathirdintheircompany，thatthirdpersonbeingtheshortmaninblackwhomIhadtracedtotherailwaytheeveningbefore。
Thethreestoodtalkingtogetherforalittlewhile，thenseparated。
ThemaninblackwentawaybyhimselftowardsWelmingham——theothertworemainedtogether，evidentlywaitingtofollowmeassoonasIwalkedon。