"What is it?" asked the major, pausing at the door. "Do you wish David to marry Isabella Dallas?" Jen hesitated. "I really can't say," he said. "That is a matter which lies in the hands of the girl herself. If she likes you better than David--" "She does." "What! Have you spoken to her?" "I have, and to Mrs. Dallas, who declines to sanction our engagement. She wants Isabella to marry David, and said--" "I can guess what she said," interrupted Jen, hastily. "No more of this till after dinner, my dear lad. Then I'll explain all." "Explain what?" "Why Mrs. Dallas wants Isabella to marry David." Not another word would the major say on the subject at that moment, so Maurice was forced to seek his room in a very unsatisfied frame of mind. However, as he thought, here was one mystery about to be explained, and that was a comfort. As Jen prophesied, David did not return to dinner, and Maurice had a tête-à-tête with his guardian. But they talked of indifferent things, and it was not until they were once more in the smoking-room with cigars and coffee that the major consented to speak on the subject of Mrs. Dallas' strange conduct. "Now, my boy, I'm ready to tell--" Here Jen stopped and looked blankly at the wall. "What is the matter?" asked Maurice, in surprise. "The devil-stick!" gasped Jen, pointing a shaking finger at the wall. "The devil-stick!" Maurice looked--the devil-stick was gone! CHAPTER VII. THE RIVALS. For some moments the two men looked at one another; and then Major Jen, seeing the necessity for prompt action, rang the bell. Jaggard entered with military swiftness, and stared blankly at his master, who was pointing at the wall; an action inexplicable to the servant at that moment. "Where is the devil-stick?" demanded Jen, wrathfully. "The what, sir?" asked Jaggard, doubtfully. "The green stick with the gold handle which was placed among the weapons here. It is gone. What has become of it?" Jaggard advanced to the trophy of weapons, and examined them with some deliberation, after which he turned to face the irate major. "It's gone sure enough, sir, but I don't know where." "Find out if any of the servants have taken it." Jaggard saluted and vanished, while his master walked up and down the room, fuming at the loss of the curiosity. He had all the talk to himself, for Maurice, whose mind was busy with conjectures as to Dido or Dr. Etwald being the thief, did not think it necessary to speak. In a few minutes Jaggard returned with the news that none of the servants had been in the smoking-room that evening. "Who lighted the lamp?" demanded Jen, sharply. "I did, sir." "We found the window open when we came in," said Maurice. "Did you open it?" "Yes, sir. The major told me to always air the room during dinner." "Do you think that someone has stolen the stick, Maurice?" said the major. "Someone from outside, I mean." "I am sure of it," replied Alymer, with decision.