"Does he want me to read it now, and return an answer?"

"He is rather expecting one, I fancy. Don't study me, my dear-I shan't look."

Isbel still fingered the envelope. "You're not in his confidence, naturally?"

"That's quite a horrid question!" The widow's voice remained soft, but her eye was hard and insolent. "I'm afraid we haven't arrived at that stage of intimacy yet."

"I didn't know."

She hesitated no longer, but at once broke open the envelope. Her companion discreetly bent down to lift and minutely inspect the hem of her skirt; she allowed it to fall again gracefully, and then produced from her bad a little silver mirror, in which she critically scrutinised her reflected features.

In addition to a letter, there was something wrapped in white paper, and this Isbel opened first. It proved to be a hairpin. She gazed at in blank astonishment, and then hurriedly thrust it back inside the envelope, before Mrs. Richborough should see. The letter itself was in Judge's firm, precise hand-writing, and ran as follows:

"My dear Miss Loment.

"I am not quite the thing to-day, so please forgive my non-attendance. Mrs. R. has very kindly offered to run over to see you and bring you this letter with enclosure. The latter was picked up-you know where. The pencil-note I brought back with me from the same place related, I am reluctant to inform you, only to my own personal feelings, and I have taken the liberty to destroy it; but I am afraid that your hypothesis is, after all, correct. If you are able to identify the article enclosed, we must regard the evident as conclusive.

"I now propose that we shall go over there to-morrow (Thursday) together. Mrs. R. has kindly volunteered to accompany us, and, if you think well of the proposition, perhaps you will fix up things with her. She knows nothing of the affair in question. Very probably I have no right to ask you to come, and I do not do so on my own account-which I believe you understand. But I know what anxiety the whole business is causing you, and must cause you so I thought it only fair that the opportunity should be placed within your reach, should you desire to avail yourself of it. if you are unable to arrange for to-morrow, perhaps you could give Mrs. R. another date?

"It is unnecessary to impress on you the desirability of destroying this letter at the earliest moment.

"Very sincerely yours.

"H.J."

Isbel read through the missive twice, then returned it thoughtfully to the envelope and placed the latter in her handbag.

"Thanks, Mrs. Richborough!"

The widow, who was in the act of adjusting her veil, turned about with a quick, impulsive smile.

"Everything satisfactory, my dear?"

"As regards the main business-yes. But he says something about our all going over to Runhill Court to-morrow…"

"Do let's! I'm positively dying to see that place."

"Why?"

"I dote on these ancient family houses. I don't know why. I'm more than a little mediumistic-that may be one reason."

"If you're so keen, you needn't wait for me, I suppose?"

Mrs. Richbourough's smile faded. "I suppose not, if I could find another woman. Unluckily, I know nobody in this part of the world. My own set happens to be up North."

"Is there no one at the hotel?"

"I'm just a little exclusive, I fear…Why shouldn't you come, my dear? What are you afraid of?"

"You don't know, of course-I've already seen that place three times. There are limits to one's enthusiasm…I don't think I'll come, thanks!"

"This is truly unexpected. Most girls would be charmed at the prospect of another pleasure party."

"The only pleasure I can see in it is the pleasure of your society, Mrs. Richborough. Of course, that is a great inducement."

"No, don't be horride, my dear. Let me put it in a different form. Perhaps you're not keen on coming; but do it to please Mr. Judge. The poor man's so proud of his house, and so delighted-so almost childishly delighted at the opportunity of exhibiting it to his friends. For some unknown reason, he chooses to set a very high value on my artistic opinion, and I have promised to tell him honestly exactly what I think of Runhill Court…And now, because you're afraid of being a little bored, you're going to dash all our plans to the ground."

Isbel laughed. "The long and short of it is I'm not wanted for my own sake, but only to act as chaperon to you."

The widow, too laughed - so energetically that her long, white face became quite strange to look at.

"It sounds rather weird for an unmarried girl to chaperon an experienced widow, but you know, my dear, two women can always go where one can't. After all, I have my reputation to lose, just as much as the youngest and most innocent of you…You will come now, won't you?"

"I'm still rather at sea, Mrs. Richborough. Is all this solicitude on your account, or Mr. Judge's?"

"On his-because I'm so sorry for him. The poor man is so lonely. He's lost his wife, he has no friends to speak of, and he lives all by himself in a seaside hotel, where he's surrounded by a set of entirely new faces every day. We women ought to do what we can for him. I know he can't be precisely a congenial companion for a girl your age, but if you'll only act the good Samaritan and come with us I give you my solemn word of honour I'll take as much of his conversation off your hands as I can manage."

"Oh, I don't doubt that in the very least."

"Then you consent?"

"No, I refuse," said Isbel, drily.

"It's too bad of you!…Won't you give a reason? I must tell him something."

"Tell him I don't care to. He'll understand. Tell him I don't care to go running about the country with total strangers. I don't like it, and my friends wouldn't like it…Thanks for coming over, Mrs. Richborough! There's nothing else you want to say, is there?" She prepared to get up.

"One little minute more, my dear…If you don't care about accompanying us, would your aunt, I wonder? You say she is negotiating for the house. Mr. Judge, of course, would bring his car for her."

"I'm afraid if he brought wild horses it wouldn't have the desired effect. She's a very difficult person to move."

"There's nothing like trying. If I were to walk back with you to your hotel, should I find her in?"

"She would be in, but whether she would be visible is quite another matter. I may as well tell you that her interest in Runhill Court is extremely thin at the moment, and as for Mr. Judge-merely to mention his name is like holding out a red cloak to a bull…She fancies he hasn't treated her with an excessive amount of consideration-and that's really why the negotiations are falling on me."

"There would be no harm in my trying, though. I think I will look in on my way to the station. It's the Hotel Gondy, isn't it? I fancy I once stayed there."

"You seem quite well posted," said Isbel, smiling with vexation. "Go, by all means, if you think it's at all likely to answer the purpose. Only, please don't bring my name into it-I particularly request that."

The widow shot her a malicious little glance.

"If it can possibly be avoided, my dear, it shall me. In any case, she shall hear nothing of the letter-I promise you that."

"I begin to see!"

"I can hardly do more, can I? If we aren't to be friends, you really can't expect me to fib for you. Be reasonable!"

"No, u really suppose I can't…The only thing that still puzzles me is why my humble society should be so much in request. Such red-hot zeal in the cause of sight-seeing strikes one as quite uncanny! Surely you can't have told me the whole story?"

"I believe we shall come to terms now. Do you know, my dear, you're ever so much cleverer than I gave you credit for at first." She bestowed on Isbel one of those disarming smiles which she ordinarily reserved for her male acquaintances. "As you're so direct with me, Im going to be equally open with you. Runhill Court is notoriously haunted, and…I'm a spiritist…That explains everything at last, doesn't it?"