about my plans, I can tell you."

Diana was almost sorry that her mouse scare had made her decide to sleep
with Loveday. She did not want to be questioned beforehand about her
expedition. Fortunately her room-mate was very sleepy next morning, and
slumbered tranquilly on while the stealthy process of early dressing
went forward. She did not lift an eyelid when Diana opened the door and
crept downstairs. The big clock on the landing had not yet struck five,
but Lenox was already waiting in the hall. He grinned as Diana joined
him.

"You _are_ a sport!" he whispered.

They let themselves out softly, and in another minute were walking down
the village street. The clocks were at "summer time", an hour forward,
so it was really only four o'clock. The sun had not risen yet, though it
was quite light already. The air felt deliciously fresh, birds were
singing, and cattle lowing. Here and there a cottage door opened, and a
labourer came out, who looked at them with speculative curiosity as they
passed by. They were soon through the village and along the road that
led in the direction of the Manor. On either side lay pastures with
clumps of yellow cowslips, the faint fragrance of which was wafted on
the pleasant air. Diana could not resist scaling a fence and going to
gather some, though she got her shoes soaked with the morning dew. Down
a hill, along the river side, and up through a long avenue of elms ran
the road, till at last a high oak fence took the place of the hedge;
this in its turn gave way to a wall, and presently to the left loomed a
pair of great ornamental iron gates, with a lodge at the side.

An archway across, surmounted by a stone escutcheon, bore the Clifford
crest, so there was no doubt that they had reached their destination.
The gates were padlocked together, and the blinds were drawn in the
lodge; evidently the keeper was not an early bird.

"How are we going to get in?" asked Diana.

"Not here, certainly. We'll go back to that oak paling, and climb over.
Don't you feel as if we were poachers?"

"Yes, or burglars! I guess we've got to burgle quietly. Hope the old
lady hasn't set man-traps in her park."

"Or doesn't leave savage bloodhounds to roam at large and guard the
premises. Well, we shall have to take our chance. It's rather like
storming a fortress--isn't it?"

"I call it precious!" chuckled Diana.

The fence did not look too easy to scale. It was of solid oak pales set
upright, and wa