Chapter XV: On the Track

by Bram Stoker

　　Those who had seen Edgar Caswall familiarly since his arrival, andhad already estimated his cold-blooded nature at something of itstrue value, were surprised that he took so to heart the death of oldChester. The fact was that not one of them had guessed correctly athis character. They thought, naturally enough, that the concernwhich he felt was that of a master for a faithful old servant of hisfamily. They little thought that it was merely the selfishexpression of his disappointment, that he had thus lost the onlyremaining clue to an interesting piece of family history--one whichwas now and would be for ever wrapped in mystery. Caswall knewenough about the life of his ancestor in Paris to wish to know morefully and more thoroughly all that had been. The period covered bythat ancestor's life in Paris was one inviting every form ofcuriosity.Lady Arabella, who had her own game to play, saw in the metier ofsympathetic friend, a series of meetings with the man she wanted tosecure. She made the first use of the opportunity the day after oldChester's death; indeed, as soon as the news had filtered in throughthe back door of Diana's Grove. At that meeting, she played herpart so well that even Caswall's cold nature was impressed.Oolanga was the only one who did not credit her with at least somesense of fine feeling in the matter. In emotional, as in othermatters, Oolanga was distinctly a utilitarian, and as he could notunderstand anyone feeling grief except for his own suffering, pain,or for the loss of money, he could not understand anyone simulatingsuch an emotion except for show intended to deceive. He thoughtthat she had come to Castra Regis again for the opportunity ofstealing something, and was determined that on this occasion thechance of pressing his advantage over her should not pass. He felt,therefore, that the occasion was one for extra carefulness in thewatching of all that went on. Ever since he had come to theconclusion that Lady Arabella was trying to steal the treasure-chest, he suspected nearly everyone of the same design, and made ita point to watch all suspicious persons and places. As Adam wasengaged on his own researches regarding Lady Arabella, it was onlynatural that there should be some crossing of each other's tracks.This is what did actually happen.Adam had gone for an early morning survey of the place in which hewas interested, taking with him the mongoose in its box. He arrivedat the gate of Diana's Grove just as Lady Arabella was preparing toset out for Castra Regis on what she considered her mission ofcomfort. Seeing Adam from her window going through the shadows ofthe trees round the gate, she thought that he must be engaged onsome purpose similar to her own. So, quickly making her toilet, shequietly left the house, and, taking advantage of every shadow andsubstance which could hide her, followed him on his walk.Oolanga, the experienced tracker, followed her, but succeeded inhiding his movements better than she did. He saw that Adam had onhis shoulder a mysterious box, which he took to contain somethingvaluable. Seeing that Lady Arabella was secretly following Adam, hewas confirmed in this idea. His mind--such as it was--was fixed onher trying to steal, and he credited her at once with making use ofthis new opportunity.In his walk, Adam went into the grounds of Castra Regis, and Oolangasaw her follow him with great secrecy. He feared to go closer, asnow on both sides of him were enemies who might make discovery.When he realised that Lady Arabella was bound for the Castle, hedevoted himself to following her with singleness of purpose. Hetherefore missed seeing that Adam branched off the track andreturned to the high road.That night Edgar Caswall had slept badly. The tragic occurrence ofthe day was on his mind, and he kept waking and thinking of it.After an early breakfast, he sat at the open window watching thekite and thinking of many things. From his room he could see allround the neighbourhood, but the two places that interested him mostwere Mercy Farm and Diana's Grove. At first the movements aboutthose spots were of a humble kind--those that belong to domesticservice or agricultural needs--the opening of doors and windows, thesweeping and brushing, and generally the restoration of habitualorder.From his high window--whose height made it a screen from theobservation of others--he saw the chain of watchers move into hisown grounds, and then presently break up--Adam Salton going one way,and Lady Arabella, followed by the nigger, another. Then Oolangadisappeared amongst the trees; but Caswall could see that he wasstill watching. Lady Arabella, after looking around her, slipped inby the open door, and he could, of course, see her no longer.Presently, however, he heard a light tap at his door, then the dooropened slowly, and he could see the flash of Lady Arabella's whitedress through the opening.