“Fellows, although this lady has been kind enough to offer us the shelter of her house, I fear we are intruding in a certain way. I am sure we are putting her to great inconvenience, and I wish to——” “Mr. Merriwell,” interrupted the veiled woman, “I have tried to make it plain that you are not placing me at any inconvenience. I will add that my circumstances are such that the sum you may pay me for the accommodation of yourself and friends will be very acceptable. Oh! I’m going to take pay! You may give whatever sum you choose; I am satisfied that it will be satisfactory. I think this should put you more at your ease.” “To a certain extent it does,” admitted Merry. “Then come in.” The woman turned toward the door, which opened at once. As Merry followed her he saw the door had been opened by a singularly grave-looking Chinaman. “John,” said the mysterious woman, “these are my guests.” “Velly well, miss,” nodded the Celestial. “They will remain as long as they choose and are to have the best the house affords while here.” “Velly well, miss.” “Take them upstairs and let them select their own rooms.” “Velly well, miss.” Then, turning to Frank, the woman said: “Dinner will be served in an hour. I think you will be ready by that time.” “Yah,” muttered Hans. “I vos readiness alretty soon.” “If you wish to send to the station for anything in the way of baggage I will call a man to attend to that.” “There is nothing at the station that we shall need to-night,” said Frank. “We had better leave our stuff there. We have everything necessary for present wants in our hand bags.” “Show them up, John.” “Velly well, miss.” They followed the Chinaman of the solemn and respectful manner and the limited vocabulary. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER XIV MATTERS OF UNCERTAINTY. “Well, this is not half bad,” grunted Browning, as he stretched himself on one of the double beds which had delighted his eyes. “It’s a lot better than camping outdoors overnight.” “Thou speakest truly, weary knight,” said Ready. “The prospect of a supperless bed on the greensward was not at all cheerful to me, and the lady with the somber drop curtain over her radiant features came to our rescue at the proper time.” “This is the experience of a lifetime,” put in Morgan. “I’m wondering over it yet. Can you shed any light on the subject, Frank?” Merry told them what he had learned while in the carriage with the mysterious woman. “Well,” smiled Starbright, as he finished, “we can thank our stars that she has no use for Mr. Carey Cameron. Evidently she has offered us this hospitality because we seem to be the special objects of Mr. Cameron’s spite.”