The man did not look around as his master approached him, but went on with his task, while Henderson stood a moment or two looking on without speaking. "Billy looks very fresh this morning," he said, presently, with affected carelessness, and the groom, still without looking around, only nodded his head in answer to his master's remark. Henderson moved uneasily, and then, after another pause and in an uneven voice, he said: "What's this story, Jack, my mother's been telling me about some woman or other being found in Fern Dene?" Then Jack did look around, and Henderson's eyes shifted and fell as he did so. "It's Miss Wray," he said, in a sullen tone; "she's been found dead in the Dene." "Miss Wray! Dead!--impossible!" exclaimed Henderson. "It's true enough, though," answered Jack, roughly. "How do you know? Who found her?" queried Henderson. "Miss Churchill, from Woodside Farm, they say, and she ran and met the young squire from the Hall. Anyhow, she's dead--she's been shot, and they say an inquest will be held on her to-morrow." Henderson turned absolutely livid as he listened to Jack's information. He took two or three hasty strides down the stable yard, and then he once more returned to the groom's side. "Jack," he began, and then hesitated. "Well," asked Jack, not over-respectfully. "You remember," went on Henderson, forcing himself to speak, "taking a note to her from me?" Jack laconically nodded his head. "That note," went on Henderson, desperately, "was to ask her to meet me in Fern Dene, but I changed my mind and did not go. She had got some folly into her head about marrying me, and so I thought afterward it was better not to go. But she may have gone--do you see, Jack? Yes, to be sure she may have gone," continued Henderson, wiping his dark brow. "And, Jack, about that note? Did anyone see you give it to her?" he went on. "Yes, there were some fellows sitting at the bar saw me," answered Jack, coolly. "That's a pity--but it can't be helped," said Henderson, in increasing agitation. "But--did anyone hear the answer she sent me?" "Yes, she walked straight back into the bar with your letter in her hand after she had read it, and her eyes were just blazing in her head. 'Tell him I will be there,' she said, and the fellows heard it as well as me." Again Henderson wiped his brow. "She may have gone--I can't say anything about it, you know. I never went near, but that note may get me into some trouble. Jack, I'll make it worth your while to hold your tongue--to say nothing about the note, as only you knew it was from me." "I knew," answered Jack, doggedly. "Yes, of course you knew, but you must not mention this to anyone. I'll give you as much as five pounds--" "Ten would suit me better."