“Then you haven’t heard what has happened at Fossaway Manor?” asked Leslie. The startled girl listened, her mouth an O of amazement and horror. “Thomas? Why, I was only talking with him the other day! You don’t think Harry is killed?” Leslie shook her head. “I don’t know what to think. Mr. Alford is very confident that he is still alive, and they have just received a strange message which seems to bear that out.” The girl was shocked, and Leslie could not help feeling that she was hurt, too. “Harry Chelford was the best fellow in the world,” said Mary quietly. “He was a little irritable and difficult to get on with--you don’t mind me talking about him?” “No,” said Leslie. “You probably do not know that our engagement was broken off?” This seemed to be a greater shock still. “Broken off? I’ll bet that was Dick Alford’s doing----” “Mr. Alford had nothing to do with it,” said Leslie, and Mary made a rapid reëstimation of Dick Alford’s character, and she was eminently adjustable. “Dick Alford is not a bad fellow really,” she said diplomatically. “There is a great deal about him that I like. And he is _so_ good-looking!” She was a shrewd, discerning gamin, who had won through by her ability to adjust her views at a moment’s notice. And in a fraction of a second she had realized that perfect harmony with Arthur Gwyn’s sister could be ensured only if her views on Richard Alford underwent a very thorough reorganization. “I didn’t get on very well with him; I used to think he was a bit overbearing. But it must have been rather a trial for him, poor fellow!” A pause, and then: “I seem to have come at a pretty bad time, Miss--Leslie. Would you like me to go back to London?” “Wait,” said her hostess, and, running downstairs, called Dick on the ’phone. He had just returned to the house as she rang. “Surely,” he said. “Bring her up. I think that would be rather a good idea. And, Leslie, perhaps you would like to stay here the night. Arthur can come along, too--you might leave him a note or wire him.” The idea was so appealing that she put no obstacles in the way, and returned to carry Dick’s invitation to her guest. Miss Wenner accepted with an alacrity that was almost indelicate. “I may be able to be of some help,” she said. “I know the ins and outs of that place, and all the nooks and crannies. It is the treasure that’s done it all, Leslie! He was always after that silly Life Water, and I shouldn’t be surprised if he hasn’t got into bad company.” “But Harry never went out.” “Oh, yes, he did,” was the surprising reply. “He often slipped off to London when Mr. Alford was away. And there was something queer about it, because Harry made me promise I would never tell Mr. Richard, as he called him.” “How often did that happen?” asked Leslie.