ertainly he was not so young as Levi
Levison, but his eyes had rested on her charms with an admiration that
seemed sincere. Who knew but what he might, after a little coy
manipulation, step into the place in her affections vacated by the
defunct Levi? But then she could not see the contemptuously satisfied
smile on Mr. Nugent's face as he made his way back to the town, the
contempt being for the fickle jade so easily duped, and the
satisfaction for the complete success of the self-denial that had led
him to postpone his dinner-hour and loiter about the country road on
which an unerring instinct had told him that the dupe would be found.

"The treacherous little cat!" he murmured, caressing his long fair
moustache. "Bereft of one lover, and on her way to get number two
hanged, she was not too busy to make eyes at a possible third. With all
your faults, Travers Nugent, you have cause to be thankful that a
weakness for women is not among them."

CHAPTER IX

THE INQUISITIVE FOREMAN

Reggie Beauchamp's mother, the widow of the late Admiral Beauchamp,
R.N., lived in a small detached house prettily situated on the main road
that extended from the High Street westward. A stout,
comfortable-looking lady of some fifty years, she had but one aim in
life--the happiness and advancement of her sailor son. Following on his
two years' absence in the China seas, she was having a glorious time
this eventful summer, with her boy stationed at Plymouth, and able to
run over to the little Devonshire resort as frequently as he could
obtain leave.

As mother and son sat together at breakfast on the morning after the
picnic tea she noticed with maternal solicitude that he seemed somewhat
preoccupied. The town was in a ferment over the discovery of Levison's
body, and though it was not like Reggie to take anything seriously she
could only suppose that he was brooding over the small part he had
played in that episode.

"When does the inquiry into this horrible affair take place, dear?" she
asked, as she handed him his second cup of coffee.

He started as though she had read his thoughts. "At two o'clock this
afternoon, I believe," he replied. And then, knowing from experience
that he could not deceive those loving eyes, he added: "I was just
wondering if I should have to give evidence. I hardly expect to be
called, as it was Mr. Mallory who was the first to actually find the
body."

"Even if you were called it would not be much