ng post a letter for
Dunn.

Deede Dawson raised his eyebrows slightly when he saw it; and he did not
hand it on until he had made himself master of its contents, though that
did not prove to be very enlightening or interesting. The note, in fact,
merely expressed gratification at the news that Dunn had secured steady
work, a somewhat weak hope that he would keep it, and a still fainter
hope that now perhaps he would be able to return the ten shillings
borrowed, apparently from the writer, at some time in the past.

Mr. Deede Dawson, in spite of the jejune nature of the communication,
read it very carefully and indeed even went so far as to examine the
letter through a powerful magnifying-glass.

But he made no discovery by the aid of that instrument, and he
neglected, for no man thinks of everything, to expose the letter to a
gentle heat, which was what Dunn did when, presently, he received it,
apparently unopened and with not the least sign to show that it had been
tampered with in any way whatever.

Gradually, however, as Dunn held it to the fire, there appeared between
the lines fresh writing, which he read very eagerly, and which ran:

"Jane Dunsmore, born 1830, married, against family wishes, John Clive
and had one son, John, killed early this year in a motor-car accident,
leaving one son, John, now of Ramsdon Place and third in line of
succession to the Wreste Abbey property."

When he had read the message thus strangely and with such precaution
conveyed to him, Dunn burnt the letter and went that day about his work
in a very grave and thoughtful mood.

"I knew it couldn't be a mere coincidence," he mused. "It wasn't
possible. I must manage to warn him, somehow; but, ten to one, he won't
believe a word, and I don't know that I blame him--I shouldn't in his
place. And he might go straight to Deede Dawson and ruin everything. I
don't know that it wouldn't be wiser and safer to say nothing for the
present, till I'm more sure of my ground--and then it may be too late."

"Just possibly," he thought, "the job Deede Dawson clearly thinks he can
make me useful in may have something to do with Clive. If so, I may be
able to see my way more clearly."

As it happened, Clive was away for a few days on some business he had to
attend to, so that for the present Dunn thought he could afford to wait.

But during the week-end Clive returned, and on the Monday he came again
to Bittermeads.

It was never very agreeable