to his feet, with outstretched hands, as if greedy for
the expected bounty. He was a dirty, ragged fellow, undersized, but
strong and sinewy, with an ugly scarred face, and a boorish gait and
manner. As the private detective withdrew his hand from his pocket and
tendered the tramp a small coin, a passer-by, had there been such, would
have called the scene a tableaux of alms-giving; but what the detective
said was:

"Well, Roake, here you are; are you ready for business?"

[Illustration: "Well, Roarke, are you ready for business?"]

And the tramp replied: "You bet, if it's a solid racket."

"Then follow me, at a distance, until we reach a place where we can talk
things over." And Mr. Belknap moved on, never once glancing back.

The tramp once more seated himself beside the fence, and resumed his
occupation. When the last scrap of food was devoured, he arose, and,
taking up a rough stick that served as a cane, he followed the receding
form of the private detective.

At sunset, Ray Vandyck presented himself punctually for further
instructions, at Wardour.

"You are released, Ray," said Constance, coming to meet him, with a
bright face and a warm hand-clasp. "You are free to follow your own
devices; Doctor Heath has a better guardian than either you or I."

"Cool, upon my word," said Ray, with a grimace. "So I am discharged
without references?"

"Even so, and you must be content without an explanation, too, for the
present. My tongue is still tied."

"Worse and worse, Conny; can't I even know who has supplanted me?"

"It's a great secret, and must be carefully guarded, but, I believe I
will confide that much to you, as it does not conflict with any
promises."

"Well! I listen."

"Doctor Heath is protected by an able detective. His name I must not
communicate."

Ray Vandyck opened wide his handsome eyes, and gave vent to a long, low
whistle.

"Conny, you are too deep for me," he said; "I am all at sea; I will drop
the subject, as it is working severely upon my curiosity."

For a few moments they sat in silence, Constance thinking how much she
regretted not asking Mr. Bathurst to make himself known to this loyal
friend, who must now be kept in ignorance, however worthy he might be of
all confidence, and Ray thinking of something that caused his face to
sadden, and his eyes to darken with inward pain. Presently he drew a
little nearer his hostess, and asked, in a low, sorrowful tone:

"Conny, have you see