rvant was a woman who came to
the house of mornings, and departed before the master went down-town;
there was no telephone in the house; and the millionaire's
"eccentricities" included, among other things, a preference for candles
over any other means of artificial illumination, and a strong
disinclination to consume any more fuel than was absolutely necessary.

Learning that the woman servant was at that very moment in the house, I
speedily saw to it that a rousing fire was kindled upon every hearth
and in every stove; nor were they allowed to die out, as long as I
remained beneath the roof. Felix Page would have no further use for
his coal and kindling.

When Burke returned from discharging this errand, I continued my
questioning.

"So it had been Mr. Page's intention to go to Duluth last night, eh?
What for?"

"I don't know. About vessels or his wheat shipments, I suppose;
something too important to entrust to the mail or telegraph."

"Did the coming of Mr. Maillot upset his plans?"

"I can't imagine what else caused him to change his mind at the last
minute; the journey must have been unusually important to take him away
from the city at this time."

Then Maillot's mission could not have been without exceptional weight,
I reflected. And unless I was much mistaken, the deferred journey had
seriously disarranged some material plan for Mr. Burke. I had nothing
more to say, however, for the present.

I sent Burke back to the custody of Callahan and O'Brien, to await the
completion of my investigation; for, until I became reasonably sure
that I held in my hand all the available facts, it would be rank
carelessness on my part to send the whilom secretary about his business.

I would have been hard put to it to interpret the impression which
Alexander Burke had made upon my mind, if Stodger had demanded my
opinion at that moment. As his round, cherubic face emerged between
the curtains, I turned to him with considerable curiosity.

"Told it word for word as he did to me," was my companion's comment.
"Could n't have told it better if it had been a piece learnt by heart."

"Oh, he could n't, eh?" observed I, thoughtfully, leading the way to
the landing.

But I could not permit myself to theorize at this stage--an indulgence
which, when premature, inevitably colors one's opinions, and prejudices
all attempts at clear, logical reasoning.

CHAPTER III

SOME DISCOVERIES

But I was not yet permitted