All that being so, Val thought that perhaps he might run through the Pomeroy house himself. When could he find a better time? Teck was occupied. As long as he was with Jessica he could not be watching Val. And all Val wanted was time to go over the house swiftly—to determine, if he could, the possibility of treasure being hidden there. It would not take long.
He took a last glance through the lighted window. Teck was planted as solidly as before. Jessica was silent, determined. Elizabeth was sound asleep, her book having slipped off her lap to the floor.
“Well, here goes,” Val said to himself, picking up his lantern.
In the shadow of the bushes, he made his way off into the direction of the gaunt old house. The plaintive voice of Germinal followed him down the road:
Near de end ob a joiney, too;
But it leaves er thought which am big an’ strong,
Wid er wish what am kin’ an’ true. . . .
A catlike figure detached itself from the solid black of the roadside and stared after the departing Val.
