There was a rustle in the darkness, and a little man came forward. He did not recognize the voice, but guessing from its refinement that his visitor was a gentleman, he pulled up the blind to see who had thus roused him. A pale light filtered in through the dirty windowpanes, and Dan saw before him a small and neatly made person clothed in a ragged dressing-gown and carpet slippers. He was still handsome, and not more than fifty years of age, but his waxen skin had an unhealthy appearance, as though in want of fresh air and sunlight. His black hair and beard, both streaked with grey, were dishevelled, and his brown eyes had a vacant expression, as though his thoughts were far away. Altogether he did not look the kind of man likely to cure a sick person. Dan towered above him, and as he considered the little figure and the darkened room, he was reminded of Stanley's account of the African pygmies in their sunless forest. It took Dr. Merle some time to grasp the fact that his visitor was a stranger, and he peered curiously at him, with one little hand raking his untidy beard. So long did he look without speaking, that Dan felt rather embarrassed, and hardly knew how to begin a conversation. Merle saved him the trouble by speaking first. "Who are you?" he asked, still in the same querulous voice. "What do you want here? Physic?" "Never took a drop of physic in my life, sir," answered Dan, good-humouredly. "As to my name, it is Dan." "Dan what?" "Dan nothing," responded the other, with great coolness--"simply Dan. I am camping in the pinewood dell up yonder, and there I picked up this necklace. I think it belongs to your daughter." Dr. Merle took the corals and turned them over in a dazed fashion. He seemed to be half asleep, and started peevishly when his visitor's hearty voice rang through the room. The man's nervous system was out of order. "It is Miss Merle's, is it not?" "Yes, yes; thank you for bringing it back. I have no doubt she would say the same herself, but that she is with Miss Linisfarne at Farbis Court." "In that case I need not wait," said Dan, turning his back. The doctor stopped him before he could reach the door. "Don't go yet. I see so few people. I should like to have a talk with you." Seeing a chance of gaining information about Meg, the young man, nothing loth, sat down. His face was to the light, and Merle, who had shrunk back into the shadow, eyed him curiously. "You are not a common man," he said nervously. "That depends upon what you call common, sir. I certainly don't swear or get drunk, or wear my hat while in the house, or----" "Yes, yes! I understand all that. But you are travelling for pleasure?" "That's so, sir." "An American?" asked the doctor, noting the last reply. Dan laughed. "No," he said; "but I have been in the States. No doubt I have picked up a few flowers of American speech." "In short, you are a gentleman masquerading under the name of Dan?"