"If I thought it concerned you to know it, I might, perhaps, inform you," was the answer, civilly delivered. "But suppose it does concern me?" "It is my opinion that it does not." "At any rate your business here does." "Does it?" "Will you deny that you have business here? Business of a private nature?" "I cannot deny that, for it is true." "And that your business consists in peeping, and watching, and spying?" "You are partly right." "And," continued Frank, growing warm, "don't you think that to peep and to spy is a despicable proceeding?" "In some cases it may undoubtedly be so regarded," was the calm, cool answer. "In other cases it is perfectly justifiable. When some good end, for instance, has to be obtained: or, let us say, a problem worked out." "The devil can quote Scripture, we are told, to serve his own purposes," muttered Frank to himself as he turned away, afraid of pursuing the subject, half afraid of what revelation the man might make, and of his fearless grey eyes and their steadfast gaze. They strode apart one from another at right angles. The stranger with careless, easy steps, with profound composure: Frank less easy than usual. "I wonder," soliloquized he, "whether Pellet has let him into that unhappy night's secret, or whether he has only given him general instructions to look after me, and has kept him in the dark? Any way, I wish Blase Pellet was----" The wish, whatever it might have been, was left unspoken. For the Tiger had changed his course. Had turned to follow Frank at a fleet pace, and now came up with him. "Will you tell me, sir, what induced you to assume that I had come here from Trennach? And for what purpose I am 'spying'?--and upon whom?" "There's no need to tell you," rejoined Frank. "You know too well already." "And if I tell you that I do not know?" "I hope you don't. It's all the same," returned Frank, indifferently, believing he was being played with. "Perhaps you have run up debts at Trennach, and are mistaking me for a sheriff's officer?" proceeded the Tiger, once more gazing steadfastly at Frank as he spoke. "Your cousin, the major's son, has been taking me for one." "How on earth did he get to know that?" thought Frank. And it seemed to be so confirmatory of the Tiger's accomplishments in the prying line, that Frank felt as much exasperated as his sweet-tempered nature was capable of feeling. "Your road lies that way, and mine this," spoke Frank, with a wave of the hand. "Good-morning." The Tiger stood still, looking after his receding footsteps. A very peculiar expression sat on his face, not altogether complimentary to Frank. "A curious lot, these Raynors," concluded he to himself, as he turned to pursue his own way.