Mr. Wrench and his two companions returned to the inn, all the occupants of which were in a state of alarm. They had no definite notion of the actual cause of the commotion any further than that some stranger had been creeping mysteriously through the apartments of the old hostelry――for what purpose they were at a loss to divine. The servant girl declared most positively that Mrs. Brickett’s ghost had paid a visit to the establishment on that eventful night. She was most positive in her declaration as to this fact, for she saw her with her own eyes, and nothing in the world should persuade her to the contrary. Mr. Wrench and Peace did not contradict this statement; on the contrary, they affected to believe it, albeit they were well aware that it was without a shadow of foundation in fact. None of the occupants of the inn, however, could conceal from themselves that some secret and mysterious agency had been at work. Brickett was puzzled――in fact, he was in a state of fog, and could not see his way at all clearly. He said, in answer to the detective’s queries, that a dark-looking man, who was to all appearance a gipsy, had presented himself at the house just before closing time, and inquired if he could have a bed for a night or two. The landlord answered in the affirmative, and the stranger, after partaking of some refreshment, retired to the room, No. 9, on the upper floor of the house. This was all the landlord knew of his customer. He seemed, so Brickett declared, to be a quiet respectable sort of man enough. Mr. Wrench did not offer any observations when this information was given, but he had his suspicions nevertheless. The whole household had been so disturbed that there was but little rest for them during the remainder of the night. The detective and our hero met in the morning, in the club-room, where they had their morning meal together. “This has been a planned thing,” said Mr. Wrench to his companion; “that rascal would not have entered my room――opened the drawer of the bureau in which the case was deposited, and stolen the same, had he not been fully aware of both its importance and value. I do much regret that he was not captured.” “I think you will act as wisely in keeping the affair as quiet as possible,” returned Peace. “What possible good could accrue from his being brought to justice? answer me that. None at all――it would have only been a needless and unnecessary exposure, at which the earl would have been greatly mortified.” “There is some reason in that.” “Very great reason, I should say――you cannot for a moment suppose that his lordship would like his private affairs dragged before any court of law for the sake of a public prosecution. Rest assured, my friend, that we have acted wisely in letting the rascal go about his business. In any case, even assuming he had been convicted, blame would attach itself to you.”