in secret. Very good. There's the
post-office order, in that case, to show that he's got a run of luck. If
he has got a run of luck, tell me this--why does he leave his place like
a thief in the night? He's not a slave; he's not even an apprentice.
When he thinks he can better himself, he has no earthly need to keep it
a secret that he means to leave your service. He may have met with an
accident, to be sure. But that's not _my_ belief. I say he's up to some
mischief And now comes the question: What are we to do?"

Mr. Ronald, listening with his head down, and without interposing a
word on his own part, made an extraordinary answer. "Leave it," he said.
"Leave it till tomorrow."

"Why?" the clerk answered, without ceremony.

Mr. Ronald made another extraordinary answer. "Because I am obliged to
go out of town for the day. Look after the business. The ironmonger's
man over the way will help you to put up the shutters at night. If
anybody inquires for me, say I shall be back tomorrow." With those
parting directions, heedless of the effect that he had produced on the
clerk, he looked at his watch, and left the shop.

IV

The bell which gave five minutes' notice of the starting of the Ramsgate
train had just rung.

While the other travellers were hastening to the platform, two persons
stood passively apart as if they had not even yet decided on taking
their places in the train. One of the two was a smart young man in a
cheap travelling suit; mainly noticeable by his florid complexion, his
restless dark eyes, and his profusely curling black hair. The other was
a middle-aged woman in frowsy garments; tall and stout, sly and sullen.
The smart young man stood behind the uncongenial-looking person with
whom he had associated himself, using her as a screen to hide him while
he watched the travellers on their way to the train. As the bell rang,
the woman suddenly faced her companion, and pointed to the railway
clock.

"Are you waiting to make up your mind till the train has gone?" she
asked.

The young man frowned impatiently. "I am waiting for a person whom I
expect to see," he answered. "If the person travels by this train, we
shall travel by it. If not, we shall come back here, and look out for
the next train, and so on till night-time, if it's necessary."

The woman fixed her small scowling gray eyes on the man as he replied
in those terms. "Look here!" she broke out. "I like to see my way before
me. You're a st