It would not do for
Mr. Springrove to appear in the case at all.' He still spoke rather
coldly; the recollection of the attachment between his sister and Edward
was not a pleasant one to him.

'You will never find them,' said Edward. 'You have never been to
Southampton, and I know every house there.'

'That makes little difference,' said the rector; 'he will have a cab.
Certainly Mr. Graye is the proper man to go on the errand.'

'Stay; I'll telegraph to ask them to meet me when I arrive at the
terminus,' said Owen; 'that is, if their train has not already arrived.'

Mr. Raunham pulled out his pocket-book again. 'The two-thirty train
reached Southampton a quarter of an hour ago,' he said.

It was too late to catch them at the station. Nevertheless, the rector
suggested that it would be worth while to direct a message to 'all the
respectable hotels in Southampton,' on the chance of its finding them,
and thus saving a deal of personal labour to Owen in searching about the
place.

'I'll go and telegraph, whilst you return to the man,' said Edward--an
offer which was accepted. Graye and the rector then turned off in the
direction of the porter's cottage.

Edward, to despatch the message at once, hurriedly followed the road
towards the station, still restlessly thinking. All Owen's proceedings
were based on the assumption, natural under the circumstances, of
Manston's good faith, and that he would readily acquiesce in any
arrangement which should clear up the mystery. 'But,' thought Edward,
'suppose--and Heaven forgive me, I cannot help supposing it--that
Manston is not that honourable man, what will a young and inexperienced
fellow like Owen do? Will he not be hoodwinked by some specious story
or another, framed to last till Manston gets tired of poor Cytherea?
And then the disclosure of the truth will ruin and blacken both their
futures irremediably.'

However, he proceeded to execute his commission. This he put in the form
of a simple request from Owen to Manston, that Manston would come to
the Southampton platform, and wait for Owen's arrival, as he valued his
reputation. The message was directed as the rector had suggested, Edward
guaranteeing to the clerk who sent it off that every expense connected
with the search would be paid.

No sooner had the telegram been despatched than his heart sank within
him at the want of foresight shown in sending it. Had Manston, all the
time, a knowledge that his first wife