"That will be difficult, my dear young lady, in your present state of ignorance. You do not know all." Dora laughed. "I know more than you give me credit for, Mrs. Tice. Allen has told me something." The ruddy face of the housekeeper blanched suddenly. "Not--not--the secret?" she stammered. "Not the secret you know of," replied Dora. "I am still ignorant of the bar to our marriage." "Then what has Mr. Allen told you?" asked Mrs. Tice, reassured on this point. "Ah, that's my secret. If you will not confide in me, I do not see why I should confide in you." "Mr. Allen could have said nothing very dreadful," was Mrs. Tice's reply; "we had a talk together on the evening he returned from London, and he told me everything then." "No doubt," said Dora, who was pleased to stimulate the housekeeper's curiosity, "but he did not tell you some things, for the simple reason that 'some things' had not happened. Remember, Mrs. Tice, the night of Allen's return was the night of the murder." "The murder!" repeated Mrs. Tice in a scared tone. "Yes. Allen did not tell you what he knew about that," said Dora, and left the room. CHAPTER XVI. DORA IS STARTLED. The next day Dora excused her absence to Joad on the plea of a visit to a friend living the other side of Canterbury, and stated furthermore that she would not return until late that evening. It was absolutely necessary to make some such statement, as she knew not what conclusion would be drawn by the old man did he learn that her true destination was London. She suspected him of knowing more of Lady Burville than he chose to confess; and, with such knowledge, he might guess her intention. If so, it might be that he would warn Lady Burville, did he know her address, which was by no means unlikely; therefore Dora was resolved to keep him in ignorance of her plan. To blind Joad was no easy task, as he was artful, dangerous, and--she more than suspected--merciless. To avert all suspicion, she rode to Selling on her bicycle, and there caught the early train to London. Resolved on economy, she purchased a third-class ticket, and had just time to stumble into a carriage before the train started. Then she became aware that she had but one companion in the compartment--a man. He turned his head as the train began to move, and she saw with astonishment and some annoyance that it was Mr. Pride. "Never mind," she thought, returning his greeting with a stiff nod; "he can tell Joad on his return if he pleases. It will then be too late for the old man to do anything, as I shall have seen Lady Burville."