Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with the neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, Grimsby shut himself up in his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the family. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, and he would give them leave to encamp upon the few acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. This time was no different: he sat near the fire with one of the young gypsies, looking at her hands mixing the cards.

How’s your leg? I heard you endured a serious illness recently.