d enough to satisfy me on one point. Is it
your opinion," turning to him, "that Saul Jacobi and his sister have
any designs on my friend Cedric Templeton?"

Hugh Rossiter opened his eyes rather widely at this. "Well, I suppose
so--at least, Jacobi means her to marry him. Whew," with a droll
gesture, "this is getting a trifle hot--you will be telling me next
that you did not know they are engaged."

"Engaged! My good sir, excuse me, but this is no joke."

Mrs. Godfrey's face grew anxious. "You never told us that, Mr.
Rossiter," she said rather reproachfully.

"I am not sure that I should have let the cat out of the bag now," he
replied with a laugh, "if Mr. Herrick had not asked such a direct
question. I am not one for meddling in other folks' business; but as
this seems a grave matter, and my friend Saul is evidently playing the
dark horse, I will tell you the little I know."

"I shall be obliged to you if you will do so," returned Malcolm, and
Hugh Rossiter nodded good-humouredly.

"Well, then, I was dining at Gresham Gardens about a fortnight ago, and
Jacobi told me in the course of conversation that his sister had never
been to Oxford, and that they meant to run down for a day or two, and
that a friend of theirs had offered to be showman and pilot them about
the place."

Malcolm muttered something, and Mr. Rossiter stopped and looked at him
inquiringly; but as he remained silent he resumed his narrative.

"They put up at the 'Ranelagh,' and had a good old time, and I believe,
from a word Jacobi dropped, that the job was done then. I wanted to
congratulate the lady, but Jacobi said that would do later on; his
sister wished the engagement to be kept quiet, she had not been a widow
for many weeks, and so on; so of course I took my cue. I am bound to
say that Miss Jacobi seemed in unusually good spirits."

"And this is all you have to tell me?" asked Malcolm hurriedly.

"Well, now, I call that ungrateful, Colonel," with a droll look at his
host; "here I have been talking myself dry for the last hour."

"And I am infinitely obliged to you," returned Malcolm, trying to
smile. "The question is what are we to do next--there seems no time to
be lost." And then, before any one could speak, he added, "I think it
would be best for me to go down to Oxford at once." And as they all
agreed that this would be the wisest course to pursue, Malcolm settled
to go down by an early afternoon train.

They went out on the terr