Mr. Withers, as
a clergyman, might have conscientious scruples against taking any part
in a scheme which, however righteous its ends, must be conducted by
what he would consider underground methods, and involving a certain
amount of deceit. At any rate, I think it better that neither he nor
Mrs. Withers should have any complicity whatever in my plans. I
therefore come to you. What I want, in the first place, is to find out
when a vacancy is likely to be caused by some servant leaving;
secondly, if no such vacancy is likely to occur, for a vacancy to be
manufactured by inducing some servant to leave--a present of a year's
wages would probably accomplish that; thirdly, the vacancy must occur
in the case of some servant whose work would naturally lie in the part
of the building I have to examine; finally, it must be arranged that I
can be so recommended as to insure my getting the place."

Mr. Tallboys was silent for some time.

"Certainly your plan does appear feasible, Mrs. Conway," he said at
length. "It does seem to me that if once installed in the way you
propose at the Hall, and prepared to spend, as you say, months or even
years in the search, it is possible and even probable that in the end
you may light upon the spring that will open this mystery. You must be
prepared to face much unpleasantness. You will have for all this time
to associate with servants, to do menial work, to relinquish all the
luxuries and appliances to which you have all your life been
accustomed, and possibly to fail at last. Still, if you are prepared
to face all this, there does appear to me to be a possibility of your
enterprise being crowned with success."

"I have thought it all over, Mr. Tallboys, and am quite prepared to
submit to all the sacrifices you mention, which, however, will
scarcely be felt by me to be sacrifices, working, as I shall be, for
the future of my son. And now, can I rely upon your assistance?"

"You shall have any assistance I can give, assuredly, Mrs. Conway. The
matter is by no means a simple one, still I can see no reason why it
should not be successfully carried out."

"It must take time, that I quite anticipate, Mr. Tallboys. Time,
fortunately, is of no consequence."

"Well, Mrs. Conway," Mr. Tallboys said, after sitting for some minutes
in thought, "it is a matter that will require careful thinking over.
How long do you intend staying here?"

"Just as long as it is necessary," Mrs. Conway said, "a day