"That would lead to expense, and you must not spend money on me. If I don't go away I'm afraid the man may come to Highfield with a gang of ruffians, and break into the house--and I won't have you worried." "I'll give you some money," said the generous lady. "Where's my cheque-book? Tell Nellie to find my cheque-book." "Thank you, Aunt. A little money will be very useful. This man is just a blackmailer, and if I hide for a few weeks he will forget all about me. Then you can write and invite me to come back," said George tenderly. "I'll write this moment," cried Miss Yard. "But I haven't gone yet. You are mistress here and, if you like to invite me, of course, I can come and stay as long as you care to have me." "And if that horrid man tries to turn you out again, I shall let Percy know about it, and I shall get advice from Hunter--I wonder how I came to remember his name. Do write to Hunter and tell him all about it," Miss Yard pleaded. "To please you, I will," George promised. That evening he received a letter in strange handwriting, and bearing the illegible postmark which signified that it came from London. George opened it and, perceiving the signature of Mr. Crampy, expert in ancient porcelain, read the contents with interest: "Since visiting you I have spoken with several collectors about your pair of vases, which, I have no doubt whatever, are excellent specimens dating from the Tsing dynasty, although I admit forgeries of this period are exceedingly difficult to detect. My object in writing is to warn you against being imposed upon, and to remind you of your promise to give me first refusal up to a thousand pounds, which sum I am still perfectly willing to risk. "It is highly probable some wealthy collectors may call upon you as, when the existence of such vases as you possess becomes known, there is invariably a hue and cry after them. I enclose, on a separate sheet of paper, a list of names; these are all gentlemen whom you can trust absolutely. The two against whose names I have pencilled the letters, U.S.A. are, I know, very keen to get your vases. If you should do business with any of the gentlemen on my list I get a commission. I don't suppose you will let yourself be humbugged, but I beg you not to make any offer in writing unless you intend to stick to it, as any of these collectors would convert your scrap of writing into a stamped legal document at once, and then sue you for breach of contract if you tried to get out of it. "So long as you refuse to part with the vases for less than a thousand, you'll be all right." CHAPTER XI SOME LEADING INCIDENTS