The eyes of the spy sparkled, as he had not anticipated being paid so well. He was not certain of the whereabouts of Adrian Lancaster, but he knew what he had to tell would certainly gain him twenty-five pounds, so he was quite content to sell his information for that sum. "Very well, mum," he said with a pleased smile, "I'm sure I'm agreeable--I'll tell you all I know, but first, mum, will you look at this?" He took the stick out of the brown paper and handed it to Olive, who flushed violently as she examined it. "It's Adrian's!" she cried. "Jove! so it is," remarked Teddy, taking it from her, "here are his initials on the band." "I knew I was right, mum," said Dentham with a gratified grin. "When I saw him looking at your advertisement about Mr. Lancaster, I said to myself, this is his stick, 'cause the letters of the name are the same." "Who was looking at the advertisement?" "Doctor Roversmire, mum." Olive gave a cry, and her face grew pale as she clasped Rudall's arm. "I knew he had something to do with it," she said in a terrified whisper. "Go on, tell me everything from the first." "Very well, mum," replied Dentham, and began his story without further delay. "My name is Dentham, mum, and I am servant to Doctor Roversmire, who lives at Hampstead. I always thought him queer, as he lived such a quiet life and behaved in such a strange way. He said he had come home from India, and when he engaged me, said I was to attend to my business of looking after him and make no remarks, so as he paid me well, I didn't mind. He stayed in a great deal, sometimes going away for a few days, and the longest time he was away was six months ago, when he was away some weeks--I don't know where he was." "I can tell you," interrupted Olive quickly, "he was here, in this house, as he was a friend of my father's." "He never said where he was, mum, and as I had been told not to ask questions, I did not know what he was up to. When he came back he never went out for longer than a few hours, and used to send me to bed while he sat up waiting. I don't know what he waited for as no one ever came near the house, and I couldn't find out what his little game was. At last, about three weeks ago, I was on my way to bed when I heard the murmur of voices. I couldn't make it out at all, but as I couldn't go in and see and it was none of my business, I went to bed. The next morning I found my master had passed all the night in the sitting-room and was quite upset; he used to be quiet enough, but ever since that night he has been quite changed--so excited--like--I found that stick and took it to my own room." "What right had you to do that?" asked Teddy sharply. Dentham wriggled and looked down. "Well, sir, to tell the truth, sir, I thought as my master was a forger, or a coiner, or a burglar, and that his visitor was a pal of his, so I thought if I kept the stick I might find out something about his goings on."