The merry-go-rounds had stopped whirling, and the booths were being shrouded or dismantled, as Jill and I made our way to the car for the last time. As we came up-- "That you, Boy?" cried Daphne. "Here's a waggoner who thinks he saw Nobby being taken away." A little knot of men parted, and Jill and I thrust our way forward. "Oi wouldden be sure," said a deep rough voice, "but a was a lil white chap of a dog on en' of a string. 'Twas a grume, simly, a-leadin' 'im Brooch way. An' a didn't want for to go, neither, for a stock toes in, a did, an' collar was 'alf-way over 'ead. Just come forth from _The Three Bulls_, Oi 'ad, oop yonder o' Bear Lane, an' the toime were nigh three o' the aafternoon." We questioned him closely, but he could tell us no more. Slight as the clue was, it was infinitely better than none at all. If it was indeed Nobby that the waggoner had seen, the thief was taking him out of the village, at least in the direction of White Ladies. This was encouraging. That any one making for the railway station would take the same road was a less pleasant reflection. I took our informant's name and address and those of the crier who had brought him to the car. Then we dispensed some silver, and left for home. Of Adele's necklace we had heard nothing. We determined to concentrate upon the recovery of the pearls upon the following day. * * * * * All through a wretched night the pitiful vacancy at the foot of my bed reminded me brutally of my loss. My poor little dog--where was he passing these dark hours? How many more must drag their way along before the warm white ball lay curled again in the crook of my knees? Had he rested there for the last time? With a groan I thrust the thought from me, but always it returned, leering hideously. Miserably I recited his qualities--his love for me, his mettle, his beauty, his unfailing good humour.... What naughtiness there was in him seemed very precious. Painfully I remembered his thousand pretty ways. He had a trick of waving his little paws, when he was tired of begging.... Small wonder that I slept ill and fitfully. Early as I was, the others were already at breakfast when I came down. Only Adele had not appeared. It was a melancholy meal. Jonah said not a word, and Berry hardly opened his mouth. There were dark rings under Jill's grey eyes, and Daphne looked pale and tired. A communication from the Secretary of the Brooch Dog Show, enclosing a pass for the following day, and informing me that my Sealyham must arrive at the Show in the charge of not more than one attendant by 11 a.m., did not tend to revive our drooping spirits. We had nearly finished, when, with a glance at the clock, my sister set her foot upon the bell. As the butler entered the room-- "Send up and see if Miss Feste will breakfast upstairs, Falcon. I think----" "Miss Feste has breakfasted, madam." "Already?" "Yes, madam. Her breakfast was taken to her before eight o'clock."