ItwasjustwhatMelburyhadbeguntosuspect：Fitzpiershadmountedthemarewhichdidnotbelongtohiminmistakeforhisown——anoversighteasilyexplicable，inamaneverunwittinginhorse-flesh，bythedarknessofthespotandthenearsimilarityoftheanimalsinappearance，thoughMelbury’swasreadilyenoughseentobethegrayerhorsebyday。Hehastenedback，anddidwhatseemedbestinthecircumstances——gotuponoldDarling，androderapidlyafterFitzpiers。
Melburyhadjustenteredthewood，andwaswindingalongthecart-
waywhichledthroughit，channelleddeepintheleaf-mouldwithlargerutsthatwereformedbythetimber-wagonsinfetchingthespoiloftheplantations，whenallatoncehedescriedinfront，atapointwheretheroadtookaturningroundalargechestnut-
tree，theformofhisownhorseBlossom，atwhichMelburyquickenedDarling’space，thinkingtocomeupwithFitzpiers。
Nearerviewrevealedthatthehorsehadnorider。AtMelbury’sapproachitgallopedfriskilyawayunderthetreesinahomewarddirection。Thinkingsomethingwaswrong，thetimber-merchantdismountedassoonashereachedthechestnut，andafterfeelingaboutforaminuteortwodiscoveredFitzpierslyingontheground。