Dick, having "cleaned" and "stoked" himself with tea and toast,

vouchsafed for further information: "Anglemere's in Hampshire. It's a tremendous place, so a fellow at the

works says, who's seen it; one of the show places, you know; 'a

venerable pile,' with a collection of pictures, and a famous library,

and all that. Lord Angleford----"

"I remember!" Nell broke in, "I met Lady Angleford at Wolfer House; a

little woman, and very pretty. She was exceedingly kind to me."

"Sensible as well as pretty," murmured Falconer. He had drawn his chair

to the window, and was gazing down at the crowded street rather absently

and sadly. In a fortnight the girl who had brightened his life, who had

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transformed Beaumont Buildings into an earthly paradise for him, would

be gone!

"Oh!" said Dick. "That would have been the late earl's wife. The present

one isn't married. He's a young chap--lucky bargee! The late earl died

about eighteen months ago, suddenly. I heard old Bardsley talking about

it while I was in the office with him. He's been away traveling----"

"Who--old Bardsley?" asked Nell.

"No, brainless one," said Dick; "the young earl, Lord Angleford. Rather

a curious sort of customer, I should fancy, for nobody seems to know

where he has been, or where he is. Left England suddenly--kind of

disappearance. They couldn't find him in time for the funeral, and he's

away still; but he's sent orders that this place--the beggar's got

three or four others in England and elsewhere, I believe--should be put

in fighting trim--water supply, new stables, electric light--the whole

bag of tricks. And I--I who speak to you--am going to be a kind of clerk

of the works. No need to go on your knees to me, Falconer; just simply

bow respectfully. You will find no alteration in me. I shall be as

pleasant and affable as ever. No pride in me."

"Thank you--thank you," said Falconer, with exaggerated meekness.

"But--pardon the curiosity of an humble friend--I don't quite see where

Miss Lorton comes in."

"Oh, it's this way," said Dick, reaching for his pipe--for your

engineer, more even than other men, must have his smoke immediately

after he has stoked: "the place is empty--nobody but caretakers and a

few servants--and the agent has offered me the use of one of the lodges.

There is no accommodation at the inn, I understand."

"I see," said Falconer.

"Just so, perspicacious one. It happens to be a tiny-sized lodge, with

two or three bedrooms. My idea is that Nell and I could take possession

of the lodge, hire a slavey from the village, and have a good time of

it."




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