man who knew Doctor Clifford Heath better than she
herself knew him. Of her diamonds, she never thought at all.

She felt depressed, dissatisfied, yet not quite prepared to blame
herself in any way. She was possessed by more uncomfortable feelings
than she could have analyzed or described, yet was too consistent a
woman to be so soon ready to admit, even to herself, that she had
wronged Doctor Heath. Indeed, she was more angry than ever with that
unfortunate man. Had he not capped the climax of his iniquities by
flying off at a tangent, and leaving her in a most uncomfortable
position?

The grounds about Wardour Place were large, well shaded, and laid out
with a network of walks. With a view to the avoiding of those paths
overlooked by the windows of her dressing room, or other rooms where her
aunt and the detective were likely to be, Constance kept to the north
and east walks, thus coming near the river, which ran north and south,
and toward which the eastern, or near, portion of the grounds sloped
down.

Walking thus, and gazing riverward, Constance saw a form approaching,
which she soon recognized as that of the detective tramp.

Glancing quickly about to see if any of the servants were in the
grounds, and assuring herself that the way was clear, she went forward
to where he could see her, before approaching too near.

Gazing fixedly at him, a slight movement of his hand told her that he
had seen, and was alert; and then she made a gesture northward, and,
turning that way herself, disappeared from his sight among the
shrubbery.

On the north, the grounds were bounded by the orchard wall, over which
drooped the branches of huge old apple trees, and down close to the
eastern boundary of this same orchard, a small iron gate opened into it.
Toward this gate Constance walked, avoiding any appearance of unseemly
haste, and toward the eastern wall, hard by, went the tramp detective,
looking innocent of any thought or purpose, save to intercept the lady,
and beg for a dinner, a dollar, or a dime.

Reaching the gate, Constance passed through it into the orchard, and,
almost at the same moment, the tramp bounded over the wall, and stood
bowing beside her.

"Come into the grounds," said Constance, waiving all ceremony. "If we
are seen talking there, it will look less suspicious. My servants are
quite accustomed to see me interviewing tramps."

She led the way back into the grounds, closed the wicket, and walked
alo