"And did you see his lordship, our all-puissant earl, my child?"

"Yes," she said, beginning to tremble--but, indeed, she had been
trembling all through the conversation. How should she be able to get
away from the house--the place which belonged to Drake? "Yes, I saw him.
Dick, did a man--a man with a slight figure something like yours--pass
you just before we came up?"

"No," he said.

"Are you sure? He must have passed by you."

"A figure like mine, did you say? Yes; I'm quite sure he didn't. I have
too keen an eye for grace of form to let such a figure pass unnoticed."

"It may have been a servant or one of the guests," Falconer said.

"Oh, draw it mild!" remonstrated Dick. "Do I look like a flunkey or a
groom? What is it you think you have seen?"

"A man was standing looking in at one of the windows of the inner side
of the wing," said Nell. "We thought it was you; but, when Mr. Falconer
called, the man, whoever he was, turned and walked into the shrubbery."

"A 'particular friend' of one of the maids, I dare say," remarked Dick
easily. "And I've no doubt you have broken up a very enjoyable spooning.
Now, would you like----Now what is it?"

For Nell had stopped short, and had seized his arm.

"There!" she exclaimed, in a whisper. "There he is again--that is the
man!"

They had come to the lodge by this time, and Nell was gazing rather
nervously toward the big gates.

"Where?" asked Dick. "I can see no one. Nell, you have had too much
champagne. You'll be seeing snakes presently if you don't mind. Where is
he?"

Nell laughed, but a little shakily.

"He has gone, of course. He went quickly through the gate."

"And why shouldn't he?" said Dick, with a yawn. "Oh, Falconer! when I
think of the cool tankard into which I shall presently plunge my
beak----What's come to you, Nell? It isn't like you to 'get the
nerves.'"

CHAPTER XXXI.

The man whom Nell and Falconer had mistaken for Dick passed through the
lodge gates, and, turning to the right, walked quickly, but not
hurriedly, beside the high park fencing, and presently came up with a
dogcart which was being walked slowly along the road.

The cart was a very shabby one, but the horse was a very good one, and
looked as if it could stretch itself if it were required to do so. In
the cart was a young man in clerical attire. He looked like a curate,
and his voice had the regulation drawl as he leaned down and asked:

"Well, Ted?"

The man