daresayweshalldoverywellonthat。“
“Yes，Alan，verywellindeed。“Thenshereflectedawhile，forthementionofJeekie’snameseemedtohavemadeherthoughtful，andadded，“Alan，what/do/youthinkbecameofLordAylward？“
“IamsureIdon’tknow。JeekieandIandsomeoftheporterswenttoseetheOldCalabarofficialsandmadeaffidavitsastothecircumstancesofhisdisappearance。Wecouldn’tdoanymore，couldwe？“
“No，Alan。ButdoyouthinkthatJeekiequiteunderstandsthemeaningofanoath？Imeanitseemssostrangethatweshouldneverhavefoundtheslightesttraceofhim，and，Alan，Idon’tknowifyounoticedit，butwhydidJeekieappearthatmorningwearingLordAylward’ssocksandboots？“
“Heoughttoknowallaboutoaths，hehasheardenoughoftheminMagistrates’Courts，butasregardstheboots，IamsureIcan’tsay，dear，“answeredAlanuneasily。“Herehecomes，wewillaskhim，“andhedid。