“He asked so many things about you and your life in New York--but more, I think, about you and Mr. Strangeways. He was really quite persistent once or twice about poor Mr. Strangeways.” “What did he ask?” “He asked if I had seen him, and if you had preferred that I should not. He calls him your Mystery, and thinks your keeping him here is so extraordinary.” “I guess it is--the way he'd look at it,” Tembarom dropped in. “He was so anxious to find out what he looked like. He asked how old he was and how tall, and whether he was quite mad or only a little, and where you picked him up, and when, and what reason you gave for not putting him in some respectable asylum. I could only say that I really knew nothing about him, and that I hadn't seen him because he had a dread of strangers and I was a little timid.” She hesitated again. “I wonder,” she said, still hesitating even after her pause, “I wonder if I ought to mention a rather rude thing I saw him do twice?” “Yes, you ought,” Tembarom answered promptly; “I've a reason for wanting to know.” “It was such a singular thing to do--in the circumstances,” she went on obediently. “He knew, as we all know, that Mr. Strangeways must not be disturbed. One afternoon I saw him walk slowly backward and forward before the west room window. He had something in his hand and kept looking up. That was what first attracted my attention--his queer way of looking up. Quite suddenly he threw something which rattled on the panes of glass--it sounded like gravel or small pebbles. I couldn't help believing he thought Mr. Strangeways would be startled into coming to the window.” Tembarom cleared his throat. “He did that twice,” he said. “Pearson caught him at it, though Palliser didn't know he did. He'd have done it three times, or more than that, perhaps, but I casually mentioned in the smoking-room one night that some curious fool of a gardener boy had thrown some stones and frightened Strangeways, and that Pearson and I were watching for him, and that if I caught him I was going to knock his block off--bing! He didn't do it again. Darned fool! What does he think he's after?” “I am afraid he is rather--I hope it is not wrong to say so--but he is rather given to gossip. And I dare say that the temptation to find something quite new to talk about was a great one. So few new things happen in the neighborhood, and, as the duke says, people are so bored--and he is bored himself.” “He'll be more bored if he tries it again when he comes back,” remarked Tembarom. Miss Alicia's surprised expression made him laugh. “Do you think he will come back?” she exclaimed. “After such a long visit?” “Oh, yes, he'll come back. He'll come back as often as he can until he's got a chunk of my income to treble--or until I've done with him.” “Until you've done with him, dear?” inquiringly.