"I am glad to hear it," he said. "I thought that you were stealing a march on me, and there really was not any necessity, for our interests do not clash in the least. It was different between you and poor old Densham, but he's given it up of his own accord and he sailed for India yesterday." "Poor old chap!" Wolfenden said softly. "He would not tell you, I suppose, even at the last, what it was that he had heard about--these people?" "He would not tell me," Harcutt answered; "but he sent a message to you. He wished me to remind you that you had been friends for fifteen years, and he was not likely to deceive you. He was leaving the country, he said, because he had certain and definite information concerning the girl, which made it absolutely hopeless for either you or he to think of her. His advice to you was to do the same." "I do not doubt Densham," Wolfenden said slowly; "but I doubt his information. It came from a woman who has been Densham's friend. Then, again, what may seem an insurmountable obstacle to him, may not be so to me. Nothing vague in the shape of warnings will deter me." "Well," Harcutt said, "I have given you Densham's message and my responsibility concerning it is ended. As you know, my own interests lie in a different direction. Now I want a few minutes' conversation with you. The hotel rooms are a little too public. Are you in a hurry, or can you walk up and down the drive with me once or twice?" "I can spare half an hour very well," Wolfenden said; "but I should prefer to do no more walking just yet. Come and sit down here--it isn't cold." They chose a seat looking over the sea. Harcutt glanced carefully all around. There was no possibility of their being overheard, nor indeed was there any one in sight. "I am developing fresh instincts," Harcutt said, as he crossed his legs and lit a cigarette. "I am here, I should like you to understand, purely in a professional capacity--and I want your help." "But my dear fellow," Wolfenden said; "I don't understand. If, when you say professionally, you mean as a journalist, why, what on earth in this place can there be worth the chronicling? There is scarcely a single person known to society in the neighbourhood." "Mr. Sabin is here!" Harcutt remarked quietly. Wolfenden looked at him in surprise. "That might have accounted for your presence here as a private individual," he said; "but professionally, how on earth can he interest you?" "He interests me professionally very much indeed," Harcutt answered. Wolfenden was getting puzzled. "Mr. Sabin interests you professionally?" he repeated slowly. "Then you have learnt something. Mr. Sabin has an identity other than his own." "I suspect him to be," Harcutt said slowly, "a most important and interesting personage. I have learnt a little concerning him. I am here to learn more; I am convinced that it is worth while." "Have you learnt anything," Wolfenden asked, "concerning his niece?"