Drayton got on to his feet and trudged the floor uneasily. An idea had occurred to him. "The person picked out of the river may have been another woman. I've heard of such." "Possibly; but the chance of error is worth little to you." Hugh looked uncomfortable as he said this, but Drayton saw nothing. "Bah! What matter?" said Drayton, and, determined to cudgel his brains no longer, he reached for the brandy and drank another half glass. There was then an interchange of deep amity. "Tell me," said Hugh, "what passed at the Ghyll on Monday night?" "The Ghyll? Monday? That was the night of the snow. What passed? Nothing." "Why did you go?" "Wanted to see your mother. Saw your brother one night late at the door of the parson's house. Saw you at the fire. At the fire?--certainly. Stood a matter of a dozen yards away when that young buck of a stableman drove up with the trap. What excuse for going? Blest if I remember--summat or other; knocked, and no one came. I don't know how long and all I stood cooling my heels at the door. Then I saw a light coming from a room on the first floor, and up I went and knocked. 'Come in,' says somebody. I went in. Withered old party got up. Black crape and beads, you know. But, afore I could speak, she reeled like a top and fell all of a heap. Blest if the old girl didn't take me for a ghost!" Mr. Drayton elevated his eyebrows, and added with emphasis, "I got out." "And on the way back you frightened a young lady in the lane, who, like my mother, mistook you for the ghost of my brother Paul. Well, that young lady was married to my brother this morning. They are now on their way to London. They intend to leave England on Wednesday next, and they mean to pass to-night in your house." Mr. Drayton's eyebrows went up again. "It is certainly hard to understand--but look," and Hugh Ritson handed to Drayton the telegram he had received from Bonnithorne. That worthy examined it minutely, back and front, with bleared and bewildered eyes, and then looked to his visitor for explanation. "The lady must not leave England," said Hugh. Drayton steadied himself, and tried hard to look appalled. "Upon my soul, you make my flesh creep!" he said. "What do you want for your twenty pounds? Speak out plain. I'm not flowery, I'm not. I'm a licensed victualer and a gentleman--" "What do I want? Only that you should send the lady home again by the first train." Drayton began to laugh. "You see, there was no cause for alarm," said Hugh, with an innocent smile. Drayton's laughter became boisterous. "I am to decoy the young thing away by making her believe as I'm her husband, eh?" "Mr. Drayton, you are a shrewd fellow." "And what about the husband--ain't he another shrewd fellow?"