ondon solicitor who had two
or three times favoured him with a brief. He hastily glanced through its
contents:--

"THE DUKE'S HEAD HOTEL"
_Norcaster._

"DEAR MR. BRERETON,--

"I have just arrived at this place on business which is closely
connected with that which you have in hand. I shall be much obliged
if you join me here at once, bringing with you the daughter of your
client Harborough--it is important that she should accompany you.
The bearer will have a car in readiness for you.

Yours sincerely,
"H. C. CARFAX."

Brereton put the note in his pocket and turned to the messenger.

"Mr. Carfax wishes me to return with you to Norcaster," he remarked. "He
mentions a car."

"Here, Mr. Brereton--round the corner--a good one, that will run us
there in twenty minutes," replied the messenger.

"There's a call to make first," said Brereton. He went round the corner
with his companion and recognized in the chauffeur who waited there a
man who had once or twice driven him from Norcaster of late. "Ah!" he
said, "I daresay you know where Mrs. Northrop lives in this town--up
near the foot of the Shawl? You do?--run us up there, then. Are you one
of Mr. Carfax's clerks?" he asked when he and the messenger had got
into the car. "Have you come down with him from London?"

"No, sir--I am a clerk at Willerby & Hargreaves' in Norcaster," replied
the messenger. "Carfax and Spillington are our London agents. Mr. Carfax
and some other gentlemen came down from town first thing this morning,
and Mr. Carfax got me to bring you that note."

"You don't know what he wants to see me about?" asked Brereton, who was
already curious to the point of eagerness.

"Well, sir, I have a pretty good idea," answered the clerk, with a
smile, "but I think Mr. Carfax would rather tell you everything himself.
We shall soon be there, Mr. Brereton--if the young lady doesn't keep
us."

Brereton ran into Northrop's house and carried Avice off with scant
ceremony.

"This, of course, has something to do with your father's case," he said,
as he led her down to the car. "It may be--but no, we won't anticipate!
Only--I'm certain things are going to right themselves. Now then!" he
called to the driver as they joined the clerk. "Get al