wards from the town. By the way, was he in
evening dress?"

"No," replied Reggie and Enid in unison. "He was wearing flannels."

"Then," mused Mr. Mallory aloud, "it is conclusive that he was not
returning from dining at the Manor--a point which could of course have
been easily ascertained. He may have been one of those who passed you,
but--No, my good man, go away! We don't require any."

The sudden break-off, which drew Reggie and Enid's eyes to the window,
was caused by a shabby, down-at-heels individual who was holding up a
bunch of dangling bootlaces with the stereotyped smirk and inviting
gesture of the street hawker. Accepting his dismissal meekly, he went
shambling off to the side entrance from the road.

"Reggie!" cried Enid.

"Madam to you."

"Did you twig who that was?"

"Can't say I did."

"He was the man who looked out of the train on the day of the picnic,
and who called out about 'the face in the pool.'"

Mr. Mallory turned sharply round. He had been watching the exit of the
tramp from the premises. "Are you sure of that?" he asked.

"Now that Enid has reminded me I am sure of it," Reggie replied. "He is
dressed differently, but I remember the bloated, drinky face perfectly.
And, by the way, I saw him coming out of the gates of The Hut this
morning. Can it be that he was not in that train by chance, but was
travelling at the instance of Nugent in order to ensure that the body of
Levison should not remain there undiscovered?"

"Precisely what was in my mind," Mr. Mallory rejoined. "And he was
probably hanging about this house as a spy in the interests of his
employer, for I can see a connexion by which Nugent may have become
aware of my active opposition. You went far to confirm my suspicions, my
boy, when you told me of Nugent's journey to Weymouth the other day;
what has just transpired is finally convincing that there is some
villainy hatching with Chermside either as victim or catspaw."

"But you are entirely in the dark as to the purport of all this plot and
counterplot?" said Reggie.

"Entirely; all I have been able to elucidate is that Nugent finds it
necessary to threaten Chermside with implication in a murder which he
may or may not have committed."

"Can't Reggie and I capture the bootlace man and stick red-hot needles
into him till he confesses?" suggested Enid.

But her father smiled with grim tolerance. "You don't know Mr. Travers
Nugent, my child," he said. "You may be very