, to whose plans the
full confidence of those around him was essential, found himself obliged
to acquiesce in her desires, and announce at once his willingness to
depart.

Instantly she was all smiles, and overwhelmed him with overtures of
assistance; but he courteously declined her help, and, flying from her
apologies with what speed he could, went immediately to his room. Here
he sat down to deliberate.

The facts he had gleaned, despite the interference of his unknown enemy,
were three:

First, that Craik Mansell had found excuses for not attending the
inquest, or even the funeral, of his murdered aunt.

Secondly, that he had a strong passion for invention, and had even now
the model of a machine on hand.

And third, that he was not at home, wherever else he may have been, on
the morning of the murder in Sibley.

"A poor and meagre collection of insignificant facts," thought Mr. Byrd.
"Too poor and meagre to avail much in stemming the tide threatening to
overwhelm Gouverneur Hildreth."

But what opportunity remained for making them weightier? He was turned
from the house that held the few persons from whom he could hope to
glean more complete and satisfactory information, and he did not know
where else to seek it unless he went to the mill. And this was an
alternative from which he shrank, as it would, in the first place,
necessitate a revelation of his real character; and, secondly, make
known the fact that Mr. Mansell was under the surveillance of the
police, if not in the actual attitude of a suspected man.

A quick and hearty, "Shure, you are very good, sir!" uttered in the hall
without roused him from his meditations and turned his thoughts in a new
direction. What if he could learn something from the servants? He had
not thought of them. This girl, now, whose work constantly carried her
into the various rooms on this floor, would, of course, know whether Mr.
Mansell had been away on the day of the murder, even if she could not
tell the precise time of his return. At all events, it was worth while
to test her with a question or two before he left, even if he had to
resort to the means of spurring her memory with money. His failure in
other directions did not necessitate a failure here.

He accordingly called her in, and showing her a bright silver dollar,
asked her if she thought it good enough pay for a short answer to a
simple question.

To his great surprise she blushed and drew back, shaking her