how papers so often
proved things where human flesh-and-blood failed. Clues--both of 'em.
Strong clues. And likely to give surprise to one or two people he knew
of. Lady Paula, for instance--and Ross Duggan.

"Dollops," he said quietly, as he let himself into the little hostelry
with his latchkey, just as the dawn was striking the sky with rosy
fingers and rending aside the dark curtains of night, "this is going to
be a heavy day for us. I don't relish the task in front of me, and
yet.... It's no use funking the issue. Justice must be done--and if it's
going to hurt some people pretty badly, it isn't my fault, is it?"

"It is not, sir," gave back Dollops emphatically. "But you come on up to
yer room and let me attend to that there 'and. 'Urtin' pretty nasty,
ain't it? I thought so. A bit er cold water'll 'elp some, an' I'm a dab
'and at the First Aid stunt since I took them lessons in Lunnon larst
winter. We'll put yer right in a jiffy. But I carn't 'elp wishin' it was
_my_ paw, all the same. Miss Lorne'll be that worried when she 'ears.

"Then the best thing to do is not to tell her, you little Worry-Box,"
returned Cleek with a laugh. "It's luck it's my left one, so the writing
won't be affected. A week or two will see it right. I wish I could cure
all the heartbreak and unhappiness in this old Castle-keep as
effectively in such a short time.... Thanks very much. That'll do
nicely, I think. And it's a good deal easier. Now, be off to bed, boy,
and try to make up for the loss of that beauty-sleep which you've
missed. To-morrow, or rather, to-day, is going to keep us all fairly
busy, I imagine. I shall want you to come up to the Castle with me in
the morning, you know--and I mustn't be later than ten o'clock."

* * * * *

And so it came about that in the morning Cleek, looking rather pale,
with one hand in a roughly contrived sling, and with Dollops in close
alliance with him, and Mr. Narkom bringing up the rear, made his way to
the great door of Aygon Castle, rang the bell coolly, and nodded
pleasantly to the door-keeper who admitted him as though nothing out of
the ordinary had happened in the night that had just passed. As he
passed through the gates with his companions and heard them clang to
behind him, he laid a hand upon the gate-keeper's arm and spoke in a low
voice.

"Heard nothing at all after we left, Burns? Saw no one, I suppose, this
morning?"

"Not a soul, sair. Aiver