ps. It looks like a trap, doesn't it? By the way, what became
of the boy?"

"He seemed pretty well broken up," the detective answered, "and sent me
off as soon as he learned that I had him in charge. I told him that you
had the whole business nicely in hand, and not to worry. He muttered
something about going home. Anyway, he would have no more of me, and he
went off quite steady, but looking rather queer, I thought."

Arthur, with sudden anxiety, recalled that pitiful, hopeless look of the
terrified child in Louis' face. Perhaps he had been too dazed to
understand how completely Arthur had rescued him in the nick of time. To
the lad's inexperience this cheap attempt of Claire to overcome his
innocence by a modified badger game might have the aspect of a tragedy.
Moreover, he remained ignorant of the farce into which it had been
turned.

"I am sorry you left him," he said, thoughtfully weighing the
circumstances. "This creature threatened him, of course, with
publicity, an attack on her honor by a papist emissary. He doesn't know
how little she would dare such adventure now. He may run away in his
fright, thinking that his shame may be printed in the papers, and that
the police may be watching for him. Public disgrace means ruin for him,
for, as you know, he is studying to be a priest."

"I didn't know," Curran answered stupidly, a greenish pallor spreading
over his face. "That kind of work won't bring her much luck."

"It occurs to me now that he was too frightened to understand what my
appearance meant, and what your words meant," Arthur resumed. "He may
feel an added shame that we know about it. I must find him. Do you go at
once to Sister Claire and settle your business with her. Then ride over
to the Everards, and tell the lad, if he be there, that I wish to see
him at once. If he has not yet got back, leave word with his mother ...
keep a straight face while you talk with her ... to send him over to me
as soon as he gets home. And tell her that if I meet him before he does
get home, that I shall keep him with me all night. Do you see the point?
If he has gone off in his fright, we have sixteen hours to find him. No
one must know of his trouble, in that house at least, until he is safe.
Do you think we can get on his trail right away, Curran?"

"We must," Curran said harshly, "we must. Has he any money?"

"Not enough to carry him far."

"Then ten hours' search ought to capture him."

"Report then to me at