"That man suspects I came to the house on the night, and he thinks as Dr. Roversmire I've hidden Adrian Lancaster. Good heavens!" he cried, suddenly springing to his feet, "if he thinks this and finds out the body, I, as Dr. Roversmire, may be accused of making away with myself as Adrian Lancaster, and then there will be trouble--but it's impossible--even if Dentham does suspect, he'll never find the connection between that stick and the disappearance of Adrian Lancaster. I am a fool to torture myself like this--a fool--a fool." He walked rapidly up and down the room, wildly excited by the possibilities he was conjuring up, and then going to the desk, took out Roversmire's diary to find out if possible some mode of escape from his unpleasant position. Meanwhile Dentham, in the security of his own chamber, was busily engaged in reading a letter he had just received, and which appeared to give him great satisfaction, judging from the smile on his unpleasant-looking face. The letter read as follows: "_If the person who wrote to Miss Olive Maunders offering to give information as to the whereabouts of Mr. Adrian Lancaster will be at No. 40, Beryle Square at three o'clock on Thursday, he will see Miss Maunders, and obtain a reward if his information leads to the finding of Mr. Lancaster_." "He! he!" chuckled Mr. Dentham, folding up this note and putting it safely in his pocket, "it was a good move, writing to that young lady--she's sweet on Mr. Lancaster, I'll bet--and though I don't know where he is exactly, I daresay this stick will put her on his track--Lord! I wonder what old Roversmire's done with him--he was always up to some tricks. I don't believe in these jugglers myself--perhaps he's killed him to read a fortune in his inside, like them coves in history." Dentham was so excited with this idea that he walked up and down his chamber chuckling. "I thought he was a forger or a robber--but he ain't. No!--he's a murderer, and that's worse nor either of the other two. I'll go to this young lady to-morrow, and I'll show her the walking-stick--that'll show Mr. Adrian Lancaster's been here, at all events, and if they search the house perhaps they'll find him, though I don't say," said Mr. Dentham sagaciously, "that he'll be alive. If I get any money out of this I'll chuck the old cove--this house gives me the horrors; I know he's got a Blue Beard's chamber somewhere--well, I'll go to-morrow--my information's worth a fiver at all events. I'll dare to ask the old 'un's leave to get away--he wouldn't give it to me if he know'd what I was up to." The bell rang at this moment, and he was summoned to Adrian's presence. "Bring me some wine," said Adrian, looking up from his book.