"Oh! you can't go so soon as that," Wolfenden said. "How about this letter?" "You can take any steps you think proper with regard to it," Mr. Blatherwick answered nervously. "Personally, I have nothing to do with it. I thought of going to spend a week with an aunt of mine in Cornwall, and I should like to leave by the early train to-morrow." Wolfenden could scarcely keep from laughing, although he was a little annoyed. "Look here, Blatherwick," he said, "you must help me a little before you go, there's a good fellow. I don't doubt for a moment what you say about the poor old governor's condition of mind; but at the same time it's rather an odd thing, isn't it, that his own sudden fear of having his work stolen is followed up by the receipt of this letter to you? There is some one, at any rate, who places a very high value upon his manuscripts. I must say that I should like to know whom that letter came from." "I can assure you," Mr. Blatherwick said, "that I have not the faintest idea." "Of course you haven't," Wolfenden assented, a little impatiently. "But don't you see how easy it will be for us to find out? You must go to the Grand Hotel on Thursday for lunch, and meet this mysterious person." "I would very much rather not," Mr. Blatherwick declared promptly. "I should feel exceedingly uncomfortable; I should not like it at all!" "Look here," Wolfenden said persuasively "I must find out who wrote that letter, and can only do so with your help. You need only be there, I will come up directly I have marked the man who comes to your table. Your presence is all that is required; and I shall take it as a favour if you will allow me to make you a present of a fifty-pound note." Mr. Blatherwick flushed a little and hesitated. He had brothers and sisters, whose bringing up was a terrible strain upon the slim purse of his father, a country clergyman, and a great deal could be done with fifty pounds. It was against his conscience as well as his inclinations to remain in a post where his duties were a farce, but this was different. He sighed. "You are very generous, Lord Wolfenden," he said. "I will stay until after Thursday." "There's a good fellow," Wolfenden said, much relieved. "Have another cigar?" Mr. Blatherwick rose hastily, and shook his head. "You must excuse me, if you please," he said. "I will not smoke any more. I think if you will not mind----" Wolfenden turned to the window and held up his hand. "Listen!" he said. "Is that a carriage at this time of night?" A carriage it certainly was, passing by the window. In a moment they heard it draw up at the front door, and some one alighted. "Odd time for callers," Wolfenden remarked. Mr. Blatherwick did not reply. He, too, was listening. In a moment they heard the rustling of a woman's skirts outside, and the smoking-room door opened. CHAPTER XV THE COMING AND GOING OF MR. FRANKLIN WILMOT