human
After you'd left Ryhall yesterday, he said,
gpt
I was walking across the park to meet Cynthia, who'd gone out to pay a visit to that thin old parson's wife over at Waltham, when, quite unexpectedly, I came across Ellice standing talking to a rather badly-dressed young woman. She was in shabby black, with a brown straw hat trimmed with violets, and an old fur tippet around her neck. They were under a tree a little aside from the by-path that leads across to Waltham, and were speaking excitedly. I was walking on the grass and they did not hear me approach. Suddenly she made some statement which caused him to hesitate and think. Then he gave her some money hurriedly from his pocket, and after a further conversation they parted, she proceeding towards the high road, while Winsloe went in the direction of the house. I followed at a respectable distance, and that afternoon, when we assembled in the hall for tea, he announced that he had been suddenly recalled to town. In this I suspected something, so when he left by the seven-thirty-five express I followed him here.
human
Well?
gpt
Well, he's in search of Tibbie.
human
Of Tibbie! What does he know?
gpt
That woman who met him in the park told him something. She probably knew of your appointment.
human
Why?
gpt
Because this morning he went to Harker's Hotel in Waterloo Road, and inquired for her. But you had very fortunately taken her away.
human
Then if he knows of our appointment he will certainly follow me!
gpt
Most certainly he will. You recognise the grave peril of the situation?
human
I do, I said, for I saw that Sybil must at once be seriously compromised.
gpt
But who could have known our secret? Who was the woman?
human
I've never seen her before. She's an entire stranger. But that she is aware of Tibbie's movements is beyond doubt. You were evidently seen together when you met last night--or how would he know that she slept at Harker's Hotel?