er the lawn, looked admiringly out toward the garden,
with its purple and yellow flowers, then gazed into the lofty thicket
above her head, where the high elm spread its century-old branches.
Agatha, standing a little apart and looking at Melanie, was again
struck by some haunting familiarity about her face and figure. She
wondered where she could have seen Miss Reynier before.

Aleck Van Camp, appearing round the corner of the house, made elaborate
bows to the two ladles.

"Good morning, Miss Redmond!" He greeted her cordially, plainly glad
to see her. "I slept the sleep of the blest up there in your fragrant
loft. Good morning, Miss Reynier!" He walked over and formally took
Melanie's hand for an instant. "I knew it was decreed that you two
should be friends," he went on, in his deliberate way. "In fact, I've
been waiting for the moment when I could have the pleasure of
introducing you myself, and here you have managed to dispense with my
services altogether. But let me escort you into the house. Sallie
says her raised biscuits are all ready for luncheon."

Agatha, looking at her new friend's vivid face, saw that Mr. Van Camp
was not an unwelcome addition to their number. She had a quick
superstitious feeling of happiness at the thought that the old red
house, gathering elements of joy about its roof, was her possession and
her home.

"I've promised to show Miss Reynier some queer old books after
luncheon," she said.

Aleck wrinkled his brow. "I'll try not to be jealous of them."

CHAPTER XIX

MR. CHAMBERLAIN, SLEUTH

Unbeknown to himself, Mr. Chamberlain possessed the soul of a
conspirator. Leaving Aleck Van Camp at the crisp edge of the day, he
fell into deep thought as he walked toward the village. As he reviewed
the information he had received, he came more and more to adopt
Agatha's cause as his own, and his spirit was fanned into the glow
incident to the chase.

He walked briskly over the country road, descended the steep hill,
turning over the facts, as he knew them, in his mind. By the time he
reached Charlesport, he regarded his honor as a gentleman involved in
the capture of the Frenchman. His knowledge of the methods of legal
prosecutions, even in his own country, was extremely hazy. He had
never been in a situation, in his hitherto peaceful career, in which it
had been necessary to appeal to the law, either on his own behalf or on
that of his friends.

Legal processes in