"I do," said Toby, emphatically; "she would have gone to the Valpys, who asked her to come; or to the vicarage, where the dear old pater would have looked after her. Bless you, Maxwell, she would have been all right." "I know both your father and the Valpys are good kind people," replied Maxwell with emotion; "and of course, if the worst came to the worst, she could have married me at once, and we would have got on somehow. Still all these possibilities do not make Mrs. Belswin's kindness any the less." "She's a good sort," said Clendon, feelingly. "Why, if Kaituna had been her own daughter she couldn't do more for her than she is doing. But get on with your story." "Well, Kaituna, as I have shown you, gets nothing from Thornstream or the present baronet; so all she inherits is her father's private property. Now, in New Zealand he had a good deal of land, but when he came in for the title he converted it all into cash, and with that cash he bought two thousand shares in The Pole Star Silver Mining Company, in Melbourne." "Wasn't that rather rash?" "I don't know. It certainly appears so. Now Dombrain assures me that the shares are not worth the paper they are written on; but I've got my doubts on the subject; so I want you to go out to Melbourne and find out all you can about the mine." "But what can I do? I know nothing about mining." "Oh, you can find out from the brokers if the mine has any prospect of turning out well. Dombrain is arranging all the will business, so as soon as Kaituna is legally in possession of the shares I will send out the scrip to you, and also a power of attorney. Perhaps the mine will turn up trumps; if it does, you can sell, if not--well, there's no harm done." There was silence for a few moments, during which Toby was thinking deeply, and his good-looking face wore a more thoughtful expression than usual. "Of course, Archie," he said at length, "I am anxious to oblige you in all things; but you must admit that this is a little serious." "Oh, yes. I told you it was a sacrifice," replied Archie, readily. "I would go myself, only I have a strong reason for remaining in England." "May I ask that reason?" "Yes. I want to find out who killed Sir Rupert." "You'll never do that," said Toby, shaking his head. "Why, my dear lad, the police could find absolutely no clue." "The police be--blessed," retorted Archie, with contempt. "I am going on my own ideas in this matter; and I'm going to get Mrs. Belswin to help me." "But she knows nothing." "That's very likely; but she saw Sir Rupert on the night of his murder, and if she can recollect her conversation, who knows but what some chance word in it might lead to the detection of the murderer. Besides, Mrs. Belswin is a very clever woman, and in a case of this difficulty, women see clearer than men." "Why are you so anxious to find out this murder?"