“I do not think so. You will be sure to be in the Thringston road, Susan?” “I shall not forget,” she replied; and the groom felt pretty sure that feminine curiosity, if no other motive, would take her. Imagine a long, winding high road, bordered on both sides with tall trees, whose branches sometimes formed a shady arch. Underneath the trees, walking impatiently, looking from right to left, was Sir Ronald Alden. His handsome face was pale with agitation; it seemed to him that they never would come. Then, from between the clustering foliage, he saw two figures--one was Stephen Conyers, the groom, the other the pretty, coquettish Susan Fielding, Lady Hermione’s maid. His face flushed hotly, for it struck him that for an Alden to hold an interview of the kind with two servants was derogatory to dignity. Yet, unless he did it, how was he ever to find out the truth? Susan made her most respectful curtsy. The master of Aldenmere was an important person, and that he should express a wish to see her had filled her with wonder and curiosity. They stood together under the great, spreading foliage, a curious group. “I have sent for you, Susan Fielding,” said Sir Ronald, “because I wish to ask you some very important questions. I will deal with you as with Conyers; I will pay you handsomely for the truth. If, by anything you can tell me, you can throw even the least light upon a dark mystery, I will reward you liberally.” “I will do anything I can, Sir Ronald,” replied the maid, evidently much mystified. “I need only tell you both this much, that I had a most particular letter to send to Lady Hermione Lorriston--a letter so important that it seems idle to repeat it was a matter of life and death. That letter, you remember, I sent by Stephen Conyers, the groom. He tells me, Susan Fielding, that it was placed in your hands, and you promised to give it to Lady Hermione. I will give you fifty pounds if you find out for me what became of that letter.” The maid looked at him in sheer wonder--it was not feigned, he saw that plainly. “I remember the letter perfectly well, Sir Ronald,” she said. “My lady had it; I placed it on her toilet-table, and asked her afterward if she had seen it, and she said, ‘Yes; it was all right.’” “Remember,” interrupted Sir Ronald, “that I am trusting you both, and that which I say to you must never be repeated. You have touched the heart of the mystery, Susan Fielding. I believe you placed the letter there. Now, listen! Before Lady Hermione opened it, some one entered the room, opened the envelope, took from it my letter and placed inside it a white rose! I will give you fifty pounds if you find out for me who did this.” “I do not think it could have been done, Sir Ronald.” “I assure you it was. When Lady Hermione opened the envelope it contained nothing but one white rose. The letter I had written, and she had expected, was not there.”