ase some other suspicions of ours turn out to be
well founded--is that our man shall not give us the slip. One of my
clerks, and one of your gamekeepers shall keep watch on his lodgings,
turn and turn about, till his time is up. Go where he may after that, he
shall not escape us."

I may now take up the chain of events again.

On reaching Toller's cottage, I was distressed (but hardly surprised) to
hear that Cristel, exhausted after a wakeful night, still kept her bed,
in the hope of getting some sleep. I was so anxious to know if she was at
rest, that her father went upstairs to look at her.

I followed him--and saw Ponto watching on the mat outside her door. Did
this indicate a wise distrust of the Cur? "A guardian I can trust, sir,"
the old man whispered, "while I'm at the mill."

He looked into Cristel's room, and permitted me to look over his
shoulder. My poor darling was peacefully asleep. Judging by the miller's
manner, which was as cool and composed as usual, I gathered that Cristel
had wisely kept him in ignorance of what had happened on the previous
evening.

The inquiry which I had next in my mind was forestalled by old Toller.

"Our deaf-devil, Mr. Gerard, has done a thing this morning which puzzles
me," he began; "and I should like to hear what you think of it. For the
first time since we have had him here, he has opened his door to a
visitor. And--what a surprise for you!--it's the other devil with the hat
and feather who got at my Cristy, and made her cry."

That this meeting would be only too likely to happen, in due course of
time, I had never doubted. That it had happened, now, confirmed me in my
resolution to keep guard over Cristel at the cottage, till the Cur left
it.

I asked, of course, how those two enemies of mine had first seen each
other.

"She was just going to knock at our door, Mr. Gerard, when she happened
to look up. There he was, airing himself at his window as usual. Do you
think she was too much staggered at the sight of him to speak? At any
rate, he got the start of her. 'Wait till I come down,' says he--and
there he was, almost as soon as he said it. They went into his place
together; and for best part of an hour they were in each other's company.
Every man has his failings; I don't deny that I'm a little inquisitive by
nature. Between ourselves, I got under the open window and listened. At a
great disadvantage, I needn't tell you; for she was obliged to write what
she h