was down at the
public-house at the village, and he came back intoxicated. Lord Ronald
was angry, and he sent the man away. The car was there in the
coach-house, and there was no one who could drive it."

"But," Andrew protested, "Major Forrest was seen returning in the car."

"He was pulled up the avenue in it," Jeanne answered. "How he got the
car there I don't know, but I do not believe that it had ever been any
further."

"Why do you not believe that?" Andrew asked.

She leaned towards him.

"Because," she said, "I was up early. The car was there at eight
o'clock, alone, just outside the gates. There were the marks where it
had come down from the house, but there were no marks on the other
side. I am sure that it had been no further. I felt the engine and it
was cold. I do not believe that it had been started at all."

Andrew was looking very serious.

"Then," he said, "if Lord Ronald was not taken to Lynn that morning,
what do you suppose has become of him?"

"I do not know," she cried. "I am afraid. I dare not stay there. They
all look at one another and leave off talking when I come into the room
unexpectedly. They all seem as though some trouble were hanging over
them. I am afraid to be there, Mr. Andrew."

Andrew was very serious indeed now.

"I will go up to the Hall at once," he said, "and I will see Mr. De la
Borne. I have some influence with him, and I will get to the bottom of
the whole matter. I will take you back, and I will make inquiries at
once."

She settled down in his easy chair. Her dark eyes were full of pleading.

"But, Mr. Andrew," she said, "I do not want to go back to the Hall. I
am afraid of them all, and I am afraid of my stepmother more than any
of them. Why may I not stay here? I will be very good, and I will give
you no trouble at all."

"My child," he said firmly, "you are talking nonsense. I am only a
village fisherman, but you could not possibly stay in my house here. I
have not even a housekeeper."

"That," she declared calmly, "is an excellent reason why I should stop.
I will be your housekeeper. Come and sit here by me and let us talk
about it."

He walked instead to the window. He did not choose at that moment that
she should see his face.

"You do not wish to have me!" she cried.

He turned round. She slid out of her chair and came over to his side.

"I can only tell you," he said gravely, "that it is impossible for you
to stay here, and that I must take