CHAPTER I

Old George Cowdale, landlord of the Horse and Trumpet, an ancient wayside tavern which stood just outside the village of Hedgington, once a great house of call in the coaching days, and still a favourite place with hunting men, was well known throughout the neighbourhood for his possession of two qualities which some folks called vices—covetousness and curiosity. It was difficult to decide which was predominant; but it is quite certain that when, one fine spring, an unknown gentleman, who evidently had plenty of mo…