el, the detective, told me, and, now
I think of it, Morley told me himself when I was ill."

"It's the same man, Ware. He has been here two months, and has taken the
Priory."

"That's a cheerful place," said Giles. "Why, it has been standing empty
for three years."

"I know. The last tenants left because they said it was haunted."

"Rubbish! And by what?"

"By a white lady. She wanders up and down the park, wringing her hands.
But this Franklin evidently does not believe in ghosts, for he has been
there these two months, and never a word from him."

"What kind of a man is he?"

"A tall man, with very black eyes, and a black beard. No," added Mrs.
Parry, correcting herself, "I am wrong. He had a beard when he first
came, and now has shaved it off."

"Have you seen much of him?"

"Hardly anything. Morley is the only person with whom he is intimate in
any degree. He hardly ever comes out, and when people call he is not at
home. Why the man should have five thousand a year I can't make out. He
does no good with it."

"Any family? a wife?"

"There is a daughter, I understand, but she is an invalid, and keeps to
her room or to the grounds. Weak in the head I should say, seeing how
secluded her father keeps her."

"Have you seen her?"

"Yes, I came on her unexpectedly one day--or rather one evening. A short
girl, with red hair and a freckled face. She looks a fool, and was
dressed in all the colors of the rainbow. I don't wonder he--I mean
Franklin--keeps her out of sight."

"Humph!" said Ware, rather astonished by the extent of Mrs. Parry's
information, "did the servants tell you all this?"

"There are no servants," retorted Mrs. Parry, with scorn. "The man is a
mean creature. You may not believe me, Ware, but he has only three
people to do the work of that huge house."

"Then there are three servants?"

"Some people might call them so," retorted Mrs. Parry, determined not to
give up her point, "but they are a queer lot--not at all like the
domestic I have been used to. An old man, who acts as a kind of butler;
a woman, his wife, who is the cook; and a brat of fifteen, the daughter
I expect, who does the general work. Oh, it's quite a family affair."

"A queer household. Does this man intend to stop long?"

"He has taken the Priory on a seven years' lease."

"And Morley visits him?"

"Yes, and he visits Morley. They are as thick as thieves. Perhaps they
may be thieves for all I know."

"Does this