of conduct," said Callaghan, "because the
gentleman was her uncle."

"Do you mean to tell me," said Meldon, "that Sir Gilbert Hawkesby is
Miss King's uncle?"

"He is. I might have guessed it when I saw her kissing him. And I
partly did guess there must be something of the sort in it; for I have
a respect for Miss King, and I know well that she's not the sort that
would do the like of that without the gentleman would be a near friend
of her own. But the way I'd make sure I went and asked the young lady
within in the kitchen."

"Do you mean the cook?"

"I do," said Callaghan. "It might have been an hour after or maybe
more when I was taking in a dish of peas for the dinner. 'Miss Hodge,'
says I, speaking respectful--for the girls that does be in it thinks a
lot of themselves on account of their coming over here all the way from
London--'Miss Hodge,' says I, 'that's a mighty fine gentleman that's
come to see the mistress to-day.' 'The devil a much credit it is to
you to find that out,' says she, 'for--'"

"She didn't," said Meldon. "Nobody of the name of Hodge who came from
London would or could say 'the devil a much credit' under any
circumstances."

"It's what she meant," said Callaghan, "and what's more, she told me
about his being a high-up gentleman, and a judge, no less. 'Do you
tell me that now?' says I. 'I'm glad of it, for, if you believe me,
it's the first time ever I set eyes on one of them.' 'You'll see
plenty of him,' says she, 'for he'll be stopping here along with Miss
King till he's done fishing.' 'Will he then? And what could he be
doing that for?' 'It's on account of the way them murdering villains
down in the hotel--'"

"I wish," said Meldon, "that you wouldn't try to repeat the cook's
exact words. You're getting them wrong every time and making it more
and more difficult for me to believe your story."

"It's the truth I'm telling you whether or no," said Callaghan, "and
what she said was that he was coming up here to stay on account of the
way they had him poisoned down in the hotel, which is what I was sorry
to hear her say, for Sabina Gallagher's a friend of my own, her sister
being married to my wife's cousin, and I wouldn't like to hear of the
girl getting a bad name. Any way, 'it's that way it is,' said Miss
Hodge, 'and where would he come to if it wasn't--?'"

"You're at it again," said Meldon. "Why can't you tell what you have
to tell without spoiling what might be a g