lfare. I cannot profess to feel oppressed
by it in your absence."

This was enough. True, the captain contrived to get in a parting shot
by announcing that Rosalind was likely to return shortly to Maxfield.
But even that did not suffice to change the lad's purpose.

"Don't be very long away," said Jill to Mr Armstrong. "You are always
going and leaving us. Rosalind will be very, very sorry to find you are
away. She likes you--she told me so; but she doesn't like you half as
much as I do."

The tutor flushed uncomfortably.

"Oh," said Tom, "you're always spoons on somebody, Jill. I heard you
tell that Duke chap you liked him better than anybody in the world."

"O Tom! how dare you tell such a wicked falsehood? I told him I liked
him _nearly_ as much as Mr Armstrong, but not quite. Really I did, Mr
Armstrong."

"I am very jealous of the Duke," said Mr Armstrong gravely.

Once across the Channel, Roger's spirits rose. He had a presentiment he
was on the right track. Like a knight of old, set down to a desperate
task, the fighting blood rose joyously within him. Whatever it cost,
whoever deserted him, whoever opposed him, he would find his brother,
and give to him his own.

For days they went hither and thither, inquiring at cafes, theatres,
cabarets, custom-houses, police stations, and even cemeteries, without
success. Most of the persons accosted laughed and shrugged their
shoulders to be asked if they remembered the visit of strolling players
to the town as far back as twenty years. Others bridled up
suspiciously, as if the question were a preliminary to their detection
in some old evil deed. Others utterly failed to comprehend the
question; and a few pityingly tapped their own foreheads, and shook
their heads at the two half-witted English holiday-makers. But no one
could tell a word about Rogers.

A fortnight passed, and the thoughts of both, dispirited and worn,
turned homeward. Rosalind, a letter had informed them, was back at
Maxfield.

Of the two, perhaps Mr Armstrong displayed less disposition to own
himself beaten. He had worked like a horse all the time. Roger had
been compelled to own that without him his mission would have been a
feeble farce. Not a stone did the dogged tutor leave unturned. Not a
difficulty did he shirk. Not a man or woman, however forbidding, did he
hesitate to tackle, who in the remotest degree might be suspected of
being likely to give information. Now th