Once more he privately applauded his own penetration; once more he
triumphed over his ingenious friend.
Thus far the captain's instructions had been too clear and simple to be
mistaken by any one. But they advanced in complication with the advance
of time, and on the third day Noel Vanstone fell confusedly into the
commission of a slight error. After expressing the necessary weariness
of Aldborough, and the consequent anxiety for change of scene, he
was met (as he had anticipated) by an immediate suggestion from the
housekeeper, recommending a visit to St. Crux. In giving his answer
to the advice thus tendered, he made his first mistake. Instead of
deferring his decision until the next day, he accepted Mrs. Lecount's
suggestion on the day when it was offered to him.
The consequences of this error were of no great importance. The
housekeeper merely set herself to watch her master one day earlier than
had been calculated on--a result which had been already provided for
by the wise precautionary measure of forbidding Noel Vanstone all
communication with North Shingles. Doubting, as Captain Wragge had
foreseen, the sincerity of her master's desire to break off his
connection with the Bygraves by going to St.
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